Sergeant of police St. Louis (Missouri), who said that the Department denied him a promotion because he is a homosexual, obtained a $19 million after winning a discrimination suit.
Sergeant Keith Wildhaber, who filed the lawsuit against the County police Department St. Louis in 2017, said he was told «to lower the tone of homosexuality» if he wants to obtain the rank of Lieutenant.
Wildhaber is working in the police Department since 1994. In the trial ten times referred to the situations when he refused to increase, despite positive reviews of his work.
The lawsuit described the incident in 2014 during a conversation with Sergeant Wildhaber and John Emanuele saracino, member of the Board of police commissioners, of the County of St. Louis.
«The command staff of issues with your sexuality. If you ever want to see a white shirt [i.e., obtain a promotion), you must reduce your homosexuality,» reads the lawsuit.
The claim of discrimination was considered this week and on Friday the jury awarded Wildhaber almost $20 million.
«I’m very impressed that it became known last week about our police Department County of St. Louis,» said Council member district 5 Lisa Clancy.
County Executive Director Sam Paige wrote in his statement that «it’s time for a leadership change, and change must start from above.»
According to KMOV-TV, the Council monitors the chief of police, and the term of office of its members expires.
