Brookline Settles With 2nd Officer On Racial Discrimination Claim

BROOKLINE, MA — An African-American former police officer who alleged racial harassment in the police department, has settled with the town for $150,000, just months after the other officer making similar claims settled.

Prentice Pilot accepted a $150,000 settlement recently, the Boston Globe reported.

Pilot and officer Estifanos Zerai-Misgun were fired last year for refusing to come back to work after they complained about facing racial epithets and harassment in 2015, Patch reported earlier. The two said they felt unsafe at work. Their accusations shocked many police officers and kicked up a series of protests at town hall calling for an investigation and response.

"The decision to settle a lawsuit is typically based upon the desire to avoid the time and expense of a trial and to move on. The settlement of this case follows a long and difficult journey taken by all of the parties. Mr. Pilot was a valued member of the Town’s police department, and we wish him well in the future," said Town Council Joslin Murphy in an email to Patch Wednesday night. "Moving forward, we are confident that the Police Department will continue to serve the Brookline community with the highest degree of professionalism and superior service under the leadership of Chief Andrew Lipson."

In response to the accusations then Brookline Police Chief Dan O'Leary said he worked to address the men's concerns, had consultants come to the department, implemented training and awareness and had invited the two officers to come sit down and work on other steps. The town headed up two investigations. O'Leary retired in January.

“The last several months of my employment with the Department were difficult for me,” Pilot wrote in a letter to Acting Police Chief Mark Morgan this summer, according to the Globe. But he also wrote that he “recognize[d] the steps” the town took after his allegations, including additional training for officers.

Zerai-Misgun previously agreed to a $180,000 settlement last year in which he wrote a letter to the chief thanking him for the steps he took and then took back earlier complaints, Patch previously reported.

As part of the settlement Zerai-Misgun also agreed not to disparage the town or talk about the terms of the settlement. Zerai-Misgun submitted an affidavit that said he was actually happy with the way the chief handled the situation.

"I received many expressions of warm support from my colleagues (including supervisors in January 2015 and thereafter after they learned about the experiences that I reported to Chief O'Leary on December 2014 that are the subject of my lawsuit."

He wrote that he understood that, following O'Leary's addressing of his concerns with the command staff, which were meant to be anonymous, that a sergeant inadvertently told officers who had complained, but had later apologized to Zerai-Misgun. The former police officer said that at the time he accepted his apology. "And I do accept his apology," wrote Zerai-Misgun, who will not be permitted to work in town again.

Following that, he said, a few officers who previously talked with him at roll call or out and about were less friendly, but he said, "They were few."

"Mostly I enjoyed the support of my colleagues, including from Chief O'Leary. I appreciate Chief O'Leary's expressions of caring and concern to me after my December 2014 report to him and while I was out on sick leave in March through early August," Zerai-Misgun wrote.

He noted that he had been worried about returning to work after his concerns became so high profile.

"But I recognize that I would not have been in danger by returning," he wrote.

"The period since I made my report has been hard on a personal level," he said. "But I respect and admire my former colleagues with the Brookline Police Department and wish them the best."

Patch reached out to the Pilot's attorney, but she did not immediately respond Wednesday night.

Catch up here:

• Brookline Settles With Police Officer On Racial Discrimination
• Supporters of Brookline police officers who allege racial harassment
• Lawyers for two black Brookline police officers claiming racial
• Police officers file complaint against Brookline
• Report: No finding of racism on Brookline police officer's discrimination

Photo by Jenna Fisher