Officers Sue Westminster Police Department, Alleging Discrimination

WESTMINSTER (AP) — Three Latino police officers are suing their Southern California employer, alleging they have been passed over for promotions because of their ethnicity.

The officers for the Westminster Police Department filed the lawsuit in federal court in February. Attorneys for the officers say the city is being served with the complaint Wednesday.

The officers say they have been turned down for special assignments including detective work in narcotics and gangs even though they have received good reviews and honors and awards.

Plaintiffs' attorney Victor Viramontes says officers started to suspect they were being discriminated against when they realized all three were being passed over despite their exemplary records.

Viramontes says roughly a dozen officers in the 90-officer department are Latino.

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