CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) - A Long Island police lieutenant has been awarded $1.35 million in his racial discrimination lawsuit against the village of Freeport.
Lt. Christopher Barrella, who is white, had accused the village of awarding the police chief’s job to a Hispanic officer with few qualifications and a lower test score.
Following the federal jury’s decision Thursday, Barrella described the process as trying but said he always had faith in the jury system.
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Newsday (https://nwsdy.li/1kmhvkv ) says the village has vowed to appeal.
The former mayor, Andrew Hardwick, was a defendant in the case but could not be reached for comment. He was the village’s first black mayor.
Barrella had charged that Hardwick terminated and demoted qualified, experienced non-Hispanic whites.
The jury award includes $200,000 in punitive damages.
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Information from: Newsday, https://www.newsday.com
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