OC Officers Awarded $3.5M In Discrimination Case

SANTA ANA (AP) — A jury has awarded more than $3.5 million to three Orange County police officers who claimed they were denied promotions because they are Latino.

A federal jury on Thursday awarded the money in a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the city, Police Chief Kevin Baker and three former chiefs.

Defense attorney Melanie Poturica says jurors didn't find discrimination by the city and the jury verdict is complicated. She says attorneys will need to look it over before deciding whether to appeal.

Officers Jose Flores, Ryan Reyes and Brian Perez claimed that despite having more than 40 years of total police service, they never got special assignments such as SWAT or detective units and remained patrol officers.

The suit also claimed that officers were disciplined in retaliation for filing discrimination complaints.