Tuesday, October 22, 2019

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.

5 Comments:

At October 22, 2019 at 12:04 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

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?

 
At October 22, 2019 at 1:30 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

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?

 
At October 22, 2019 at 2:48 PM , Blogger jim pillsbury said...

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.

 
At October 23, 2019 at 4:53 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I suspect this was not a one up. Why hasn't anyone looked into this to see if this has happened before?

 
At October 25, 2019 at 7:59 AM , Blogger Jim Pillsbury said...

I agree...I would suspect others who have been denied employment would see this as their opportunity to come forward.

 

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