More trouble for the State Police
Trooper at center of discrimination case the State
Police lost is still vetting recruits
By Victoria McGrane Globe Staff,October 21, 2019, 2:21
p.m.
Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff/File/Globe
Staff
Ten months after a federal jury found that
Massachusetts State Police discriminated against a black recruit, denying him
entrance to its academy because of his race, the trooper who conducted the
background investigation that triggered the rejection is still vetting
recruits.
In December, jurors ruled that Orlando
Riley, a veteran New Bedford police officer, had been barred from the State
Police Academy because he is black and awarded him $130,000.
The case largely turned on Trooper
Robert Lima and the background investigation he had performed on Riley.
Riley said Lima denigrated his New
Bedford neighborhood, expressed disbelief that he did not gamble, and accused
Riley of falsifying a letter confirming that he had graduated from high school.
His lawyers argued Riley was treated
differently than similarly situated white candidates.
A jury found Riley’s claims persuasive
enough to decide in his favor, and a judge in April ordered the State Police to
take him on as a recruit.
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 11:10 AM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
Geez Louise. Seems pretty obvious to anyone paying attention this officer should not be vetting any more candidates. Who make the decision to remove him from that position?
I have to ask if this officer was found in fault enough that the state had to pay the applicant $130,000 for being discriminated against why is the office is did this still on the job at all? What consequence did he have for his illegal behavior?
the judge made the State cops hire him and pay his attorney fees on over million bucks.
Colonel Kerry Kilpin and Charlie Baker has said nothing.
"The fact that we have accepted the jury verdict does not change our position". The department maintains that no discrimination occurred and Trooper Lima performed his duties appropriately.
I wonder how many black candidates were rejected falsely.
I suspect this was not a one up. Why hasn't anyone looked into this to see if this has happened before?
I agree...I would suspect others who have been denied employment would see this as their opportunity to come forward.
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