Officer Loses Bias Suit Over Denial of Promotions

A federal judge Friday ruled that a veteran Inglewood police lieutenant who is Latino was not discriminated against when he was denied a promotion to captain for the fifth and sixth times in 17 years.

U.S. District Judge A. Andrew Hauk said Lt. David Garza Jr. failed to present sufficient evidence of discrimination.

“It seems to me that the evidence has been overwhelming that there has been no showing of disparate or discriminatory effect,” he said, adding that promotion procedures were justified and were followed. The judge said that even Garza admitted he could not think of one specific instance where he was taunted or abused based on his national origin.