Brookline Police Officers File New Lawsuit Alleging Racial Bias

Brookline, MA – Two African-American police officers filed a new lawsuit against the town in Massachusetts Superior Court on Monday, alleging racial bias and hostile working conditions in the Brookline Police Department.

In the complaint, officers Prentice Pilot and Estifanos Zerai-Misgun allege they had racial slurs directed at them by their colleagues and were treated differently based on their race; furthermore, they accuse Brookline town officials of failing to adequately investigate these claims.

Pilot and Zerai-Misgun first went public with their allegations in December; last week, town officials released a report detailing the investigation into the officers' claims, stating that "no hostile racial climate or culture of racism exists in the Brookline Police Department," according to the Brookline TAB.

However, it was also announced that a number of steps were being taken to ensure a more "cohesive work environment" within the department, the TAB reported.

Monday's complaint asks for damages and injunctive relief, ordering the town to address and remedy the hostile work environment.

Patch reached out to the Brookline Police Department Monday evening; a spokesperson there was not immediately available for comment.