Federal Judge Orders Police Promotions

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Federal Judge Orders Police Promotions

 

FAST FACTS:

   * Federal Judge Bernice Donald orders 28 Memphis police offers promoted to lieutenants
   * Ruling result of 10 year old lawsuit
   * City attorneys considering appeal

The ruling came in an order released Thursday. It says the officers have lost and will continue to lose the ability to gain valuable work experience as lieutenants, compete for future promotions to major and advance in their chosen careers. The judge order means they could receive rank advancement and 10 years back pay. The ruling is a blow to the city's case.

"It's obviously not the ruling that we would have expected or would have wanted based on our arguments in the case, but it is the ruling of the court. We will review it. We will study it and we will determine what our next step should be," said Herman Morris, Memphis City Attorney.

The lawsuit was first filed in 2000 when the officers were just patrolman trying to become sergeants. They claimed the city's promotions process wasn't fair to minority officers. The judge ruled in their favor but the city appealed. The federal court appointed appointed them as interim sergeants anyway. When the lawsuit dragged on so long, the officers went back to court saying they were losing money and rank. The federal court agreed. The order said there should no longer be any further impediment to their advancement.

The city initially claimed its hiring practices are fair and designed to put the best qualified officers in the right positions. The lawsuit states its for the safety of the citizens of Memphis

Morris said, "The main issue and the main question is to make sure we've got within our compliment of officers folks that are prepared for the responsibilities of their position."
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http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-police-promotions-ruling-story,0,1775730.story