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L.A. Now (Los Angeles Times)
March 8, 2012 Thursday 8:31 PM EST
3 Armenian police claim discrimination by Glendale department
BY: Amanda Covarrubias
Three Armenian Glendale police officers filed a lawsuit Monday in Los
Angeles County Superior Court, alleging racial discrimination and
continued retaliation after they filed a claim against the department
in federal court two years ago.
Officers Vahak Mardikian, John Balian and Tigran Topadzhikyan also
claim in the latest lawsuit filed against the city and high-ranking
members of the Glendale Police Department that they have been unfairly
placed on paid administrative leave, the Glendale News-Press reported.
The attorney representing the officers did not return requests for
comment Wednesday.
The officers claim Police Chief Ron De Pompa and members of his
command staff "use administrative leave and internal affairs
investigations as reckless abuse of power to intimidate and retaliate,
as well as to send a fearful message to other employees that, if they
engage the department in litigation or support those who do, they too
will be subjected to the same type of treatment."
City Atty. Mike Garcia on Tuesday denied the allegations in the
lawsuit. And in a statement, De Pompa said that as the chief of
police, "I have the responsibility of effectively administering this
department and providing policing services to this community, whether
or not we are involved in litigation."
Balian, Mardikian and Topadzhikyan, along with Officer Robert
Parseghian and former Officer Benny Simonzad, jointly filed a federal
lawsuit in 2010 alleging years of on-the-job discrimination,
retaliation and harassment because they're Armenian.
Litigation in that suit remains ongoing.
In the latest claim, the officers also allege that they were the
victims of unfounded internal affairs investigations in the wake of
the federal discrimination lawsuit.
Topadzhikyan alleges he was placed on administrative leave in October
for reporting discrimination, whistle-blowing and supporting other
officers who complained about discrimination. He also claims
management ordered him not to speak about the department's misconduct,
and that he must remain at home from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during his
leave.
The continued harassment and retaliation allegedly pushed Balian to
suffer "dangerously high" blood pressure, forcing him out of work for
more than a week, according to the lawsuit. When he complained about
the harassment, he claims the department placed him on administrative
leave for more than six months.
Mardikian claims he has remained on administrative leave since March
2011 without an explanation, and that he was demoted after defending
officers who were treated unfairly, according to the lawsuit.
-- Veronica Rocha, Times Community News
From: Baghdasarian
March 8, 2012 Thursday 8:31 PM EST
3 Armenian police claim discrimination by Glendale department
BY: Amanda Covarrubias
Three Armenian Glendale police officers filed a lawsuit Monday in Los
Angeles County Superior Court, alleging racial discrimination and
continued retaliation after they filed a claim against the department
in federal court two years ago.
Officers Vahak Mardikian, John Balian and Tigran Topadzhikyan also
claim in the latest lawsuit filed against the city and high-ranking
members of the Glendale Police Department that they have been unfairly
placed on paid administrative leave, the Glendale News-Press reported.
The attorney representing the officers did not return requests for
comment Wednesday.
The officers claim Police Chief Ron De Pompa and members of his
command staff "use administrative leave and internal affairs
investigations as reckless abuse of power to intimidate and retaliate,
as well as to send a fearful message to other employees that, if they
engage the department in litigation or support those who do, they too
will be subjected to the same type of treatment."
City Atty. Mike Garcia on Tuesday denied the allegations in the
lawsuit. And in a statement, De Pompa said that as the chief of
police, "I have the responsibility of effectively administering this
department and providing policing services to this community, whether
or not we are involved in litigation."
Balian, Mardikian and Topadzhikyan, along with Officer Robert
Parseghian and former Officer Benny Simonzad, jointly filed a federal
lawsuit in 2010 alleging years of on-the-job discrimination,
retaliation and harassment because they're Armenian.
Litigation in that suit remains ongoing.
In the latest claim, the officers also allege that they were the
victims of unfounded internal affairs investigations in the wake of
the federal discrimination lawsuit.
Topadzhikyan alleges he was placed on administrative leave in October
for reporting discrimination, whistle-blowing and supporting other
officers who complained about discrimination. He also claims
management ordered him not to speak about the department's misconduct,
and that he must remain at home from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during his
leave.
The continued harassment and retaliation allegedly pushed Balian to
suffer "dangerously high" blood pressure, forcing him out of work for
more than a week, according to the lawsuit. When he complained about
the harassment, he claims the department placed him on administrative
leave for more than six months.
Mardikian claims he has remained on administrative leave since March
2011 without an explanation, and that he was demoted after defending
officers who were treated unfairly, according to the lawsuit.
-- Veronica Rocha, Times Community News
From: Baghdasarian