With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAPD Officers Who Fatally Shot Ezell Ford Sue City, Alleging 'Racial Discrimination'
People look at a mural of Ezell Ford at the site where he was shot and killed by two LAPD officers in August, on December 29, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
()
Two LAPD officers who fatally shot an unarmed mentally ill man in 2014 have sued the city, alleging they've been kept on desk duty due to "racial discrimination" and retaliation.
Ezell Ford, 25, was shot near his South L.A. home in August 2014; his mother alleged that Ford was already lying on the ground and complying with orders when he was shot, but Officers Tony Villegas and Sharlton Wampler were cleared of any wrongdoing by the department. Ford's killing, which came just days after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, sparked outrage in the city. The Los Angeles Police Commission later overturned the LAPD's decision and issued a mixed ruling on the case, clearing Villegas but finding fault in Wampler's decision to use force. In their lawsuit, Villegas and Wampler call the commission "an inexperienced group of political appointees," according to City News Service.
One of the officers who filed the suit is Latino, and the other is either white or Asian, depending on whom you ask (he identifies as white in the suit; department records list him as Asian). Both allege that they've been discriminated against due to their race, and the race of the black man they fatally shot, according to the L.A. Times. They also claim to have been denied advancement, overtime, transfers and other employment opportunities as retaliation for the shooting. The Times reports that the two officers point to the promotion of a black officer involved in a different fatal shooting that was also deemed to have been flawed as evidence of the racial discrimination against them.
We reached out to the City Attorney's office for comment, but have not yet heard back.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails.
Best of LAist