Jury awards white Police Lieutenant 1.35m in racial discrimination lawsuit

[JJChambers]

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/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 Wednesday, Barrella described the process as trying but said he always had faith in the jury system.

“It’s really a good feeling to be validated, and I am incredibly appreciative that the jury saw it my way,” Barrella told 1010 WINS’ Mona Rivera.

...

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/05/30/white-police-lieutenant-awarded-1-35-million-in-racial-discrimination-lawsuit/

I'm pretty surprised by this verdict, considering the long-held views that institutional racism cannot apply to whites.

[Ballast_Point]

1. That's a hefty settlement...

Did he get the job as well?

[JJChambers]

2. I'm not sure

Haven't seen it mentioned yet ..

[uponit7771]

3. That's not institutional racism, that's a police force trying to cover it's ass by hiring out of ...

... qualification and not get bent by Hispanics on the police force instead of just making sure everyone is included in the process of hiring for leadership

[Lee-Lee]

4. I could see for other promotions, maybe, but chief?

Chief is always, and has always, been largely a political appointment/hire and not a civil service position.

As such, I find it hard to justify claims of discrimination.

[JJChambers]

6. It sounds like there was a testing and interview process

[Lee-Lee]

9. That doesn't change that the Chiefs position is a political hire

Or more accurately, a political appointment.

The elected officials making the hiring decision can pretty much make any decision they choose, and are not bound by civil service or other rules.

There are controversial choices made when hiring chiefs of police all the time. It's no secret that progressive city councils and mayors hire progressive chiefs and conservative politicians hire conservative chiefs.

[JJChambers]

10. Political or not, I don't think racial discrimination should be allowed.

We are better than that.

[gollygee]

5. This is one institution

but when you look at the US in general, a disproportionate number of white people do hiring and bring in their conscious or subconscious biases when they do so. People of color are not immune from having and responding to internal biases either, but there aren't as many in positions where they hire so it has a smaller effect on society.

Overall, white men with criminal records have an easier time getting a job than black men without criminal records. (You can Google that if you want.)

If a white person faces discrimination in one workplace, they only need to apply to another workplace to escape it. But people of color face discimination of this sort in workplace after workplace after workplace. Anyone can have biases, that isn't in question. What is an issue is what group has power and shapes society, intentionally or not, with their biases.

Also, I wonder whether it is easier for a white person to find a sympathetic jury in a discrimination suit.

[Ballast_Point]

7. The idea that racism requires an institution is relatively new...

[JJChambers]

8. Do you think the idea has merit? Or is it BS?

[Ballast_Point]

11. Institutional racism is certainly a thing..

... But is a subset of racism in general.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. In Florida, underqualified people are always getting promoted to jobs.

Of course, we're talking about local white candidates vs. non-connected white candidates.

[JJChambers]

13. What you know means little compared to who you know :(

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Or more to the point, "are you willing to look the other way for the "right" people."

They're already trained.

[AverageJoe90]

15. It was an unfortunate mistake, yes, but I don't think it was institutional racism, IMO.

More likely, this was just somebody dropping the ball and not actually trying to screw the white guy out of his job.

With that said, though, I hope Lt. Barrella does some good with his career.