Brookline Cops File Complaint With State

Two Brookline police officers filed complaints with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Wednesday, claiming the town’s failure to properly investigate their allegations of discrimination within the Brookline Police Department led to a hostile work environment, the Boston Globe reported.

Prentice Pilot and Estifanos Zerai-Misgun point to at least six incidents in which they say they were the target of racial comments by fellow officers. The complaint alleges that since first raising their concerns to police Chief Daniel O’Leary in December 2014, they have been shunned by the rest of the department and passed over for promotions.

According to the Globe, Pilot and Zerai-Misgun withdrew their names from a federal lawsuit in which they were plaintiffs alongside six other Brookline employees and residents, including local firefighter Gerald Alston. Alston alleges similar conduct in the Brookline Fire Department.

The two officers are seeking damages and “injunctive relief,” which would force the town to address the alleged hostile work environment. Attorneys for Pilot and Zerai-Misgun are scheduled to meet with town officials Thursday.

>>> For the full Globe report, click here<<<