Two Black Seattle police officers sue SPD, allege racist practices, culture

Two rank-and-file Seattle police officers have filed civil suits against the department for alleged pervasive anti-Black racism.

The two officers, Corey Foy and Michael Griffin, filed their lawsuits against the Seattle Police Department (SPD) separately, but on the same day earlier this month, claiming they were harassed, humiliated, and retaliated against during their time there. The pair also claimed they were both denied opportunities to advance and move upward.

Examples of racist behavior towards Foy, Griffin

Foy shared an incident with Divest SPD, an activist and watchdog group monitoring SPD officer misconduct, where SPD Officer Andrew Marks allegedly said Foy looked like a “f****** thug” after he showed up to the precinct in workout clothes. The Office of Police Accountability investigated the incident, and subsequently recommended suspension for unprofessionalism.

Another officer, Cody Alidon, told Foy that he looked “shady” walking through the South Precinct parking lot in a hoodie, according to Divest SPD. When Foy asked him if it’s “because I’m Black,” Alidon laughed and drove off.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/two-black-seattle-police-officers-235858437.html