Two LAPD officers involved in the shooting death of Ezell Ford are suing their own department citing racial discrimination.
Asian-American officer Sharlton Wampler and Latino officer Antonio Villegas claim they have been kept on desk duty following the August 2014 death of Ford. Ford, 25, was diagnosed as bipolar and schizophrenic and was killed just two days after Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Along with desk duty, Wampler and Villegas allege they have been denied promotions, transfers, overtime requests and have been retaliated against due to ford being Black and the officers being of different races.
According to the LA Times, Wampler and Villegas said the retaliation began in August 2015 when they filed a complaint with state regulators. The officers pointed out that a black officer, also involved in the shooting, received a promotion.
The suit is being handled by Gregory W. Smith, a Los Angeles attorney who has handled multiple cases on behalf of police and firemen.