A Los Angeles police sergeant who claimed he was harassed because he is gay, and then retaliated against for reporting the incidents, was awarded $1.1 million by a jury on Thursday.
Sgt. Ronald Crump, 39, a 16-year LAPD veteran, said he was transferred from a coveted job in media relations to Skid Row, reported the Los Angeles Times.
Sgt. Ronald Crump sued the city last year, alleging that his direct supervisor at the Los Angeles Police Department Media Relations Section — Lt. John Romero — made derogatory remarks about his homosexuality. Romero, who has since been promoted to captain, allegedly described him as “the new Ruby minus the heels,” in reference to the woman he replaced in the unit.
On another occasion, Romero allegedly told him, “I was a religion major at Liberty University. Jerry Falwell would roll over in his grave if he knew I had hired you.”
Crump argued to the jury that the transfer from the prestigious media relations section was punitive and that it cost him future opportunities for promotion. The jury agreed, and awarded him $1,165,215.
