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ARMENIAN OFFICER IN BURBANK ENDURES ETHNIC SLURS, GOES TO COURT
PanARMENIAN.Net
March 24, 2012 - 14:28 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Testimony in another trial pitting a police officer
against the city began this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court,
this time centering on claims that an Armenian American detective
endured ethnic slurs and other forms of harassment, Burbank Leader
reported.
Burbank Police Det. Steve Karagiosian's attorney, Solomon Gresen,
said in his opening statement Thursday, March 22, that evidence would
show ethnic slurs against his client were made and corroborated by
other officers.
Gresen said his client was "no ordinary officer."
"From the time he passed probationary status, he received outstanding
performance evaluations," Gresen said, noting that Karagiosian was
named Officer of the Year in 2007.
After Karagiosian's probationary period passed, "he started hearing
comments, about him and people on the street," and started to complain
as early as 2007, Gresen said. One of the six officers Karagiosian
alleges made racial slurs was suspended for about 12 hours, he said.
Officer Aaron Kendrick was accused of calling Armenians "towel heads,"
which was corroborated by four other officers, according to documents
presented in court that were based on an investigation by outside
attorney Irma Rodriguez Moisa.
Former Police Chief Tim Stehr was the first witness in the trial,
taking the stand Thursday to weigh in on the allegations. "I believe
it falls under the harassment section," Stehr said when asked if
Kendrick's statement violated a department or city policy.
Kendrick also allegedly told Karagiosian he was hired and promoted
only because he was Armenian.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Michaels, one of the attorneys defending the city,
said in his opening statement that Karagiosian complained about the
remarks years after they were made and only after there were rumors
the FBI would be investigating the department for alleged excessive
use of force. Karagiosian filed the lawsuit, Michaels argued, because
he feared he would be investigated.
Michaels described Karagiosian as a foul-mouthed, abrasive person who
did not fear retaliation or confronting people, and said the detective
had previously deemed such comments as just jokes and failed attempts
at humor - not harassment or discrimination.
PanARMENIAN.Net
March 24, 2012 - 14:28 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Testimony in another trial pitting a police officer
against the city began this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court,
this time centering on claims that an Armenian American detective
endured ethnic slurs and other forms of harassment, Burbank Leader
reported.
Burbank Police Det. Steve Karagiosian's attorney, Solomon Gresen,
said in his opening statement Thursday, March 22, that evidence would
show ethnic slurs against his client were made and corroborated by
other officers.
Gresen said his client was "no ordinary officer."
"From the time he passed probationary status, he received outstanding
performance evaluations," Gresen said, noting that Karagiosian was
named Officer of the Year in 2007.
After Karagiosian's probationary period passed, "he started hearing
comments, about him and people on the street," and started to complain
as early as 2007, Gresen said. One of the six officers Karagiosian
alleges made racial slurs was suspended for about 12 hours, he said.
Officer Aaron Kendrick was accused of calling Armenians "towel heads,"
which was corroborated by four other officers, according to documents
presented in court that were based on an investigation by outside
attorney Irma Rodriguez Moisa.
Former Police Chief Tim Stehr was the first witness in the trial,
taking the stand Thursday to weigh in on the allegations. "I believe
it falls under the harassment section," Stehr said when asked if
Kendrick's statement violated a department or city policy.
Kendrick also allegedly told Karagiosian he was hired and promoted
only because he was Armenian.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Michaels, one of the attorneys defending the city,
said in his opening statement that Karagiosian complained about the
remarks years after they were made and only after there were rumors
the FBI would be investigating the department for alleged excessive
use of force. Karagiosian filed the lawsuit, Michaels argued, because
he feared he would be investigated.
Michaels described Karagiosian as a foul-mouthed, abrasive person who
did not fear retaliation or confronting people, and said the detective
had previously deemed such comments as just jokes and failed attempts
at humor - not harassment or discrimination.