A federal jury in Austin has ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to pay more than $1.6 million after finding that two Black troopers were subjected to racial harassment on the job and that one of them faced retaliation for speaking up. The verdict, filed in federal court last Thursday, stems from complaints brought by Special Agent Jari McPherson and retired corporal Jerald Sams. Jurors concluded DPS failed to take prompt remedial action, and they found McPherson had proven his retaliation claim.
Verdict details and DPS response
The jury’s combined award topped $1.6 million. According to KXAN, the verdict form shows jurors agreed Sams had been harassed because of his race, but answered "no" when asked if he would have been promoted but for his race. KXAN reported that the judgment was filed last Thursday in federal court and that the Texas Department of Public Safety declined to comment, noting the case is not technically closed.
Years of complaints behind the case
The lawsuit traces back to complaints that began in 2018 and survived a key legal challenge when a federal judge allowed the claims to move forward, according to the Houston Chronicle. Earlier reporting from the Chronicle detailed allegations that Black troopers were passed over for promotion, mocked in photos and comments, and steered into units with heavier workloads. The plaintiffs said that the combination created a racially hostile workplace. The Chronicle also noted that the state pushed back, arguing there were nondiscriminatory reasons for various personnel decisions and that some of the claims were actively contested in court.
Inside the incidents described at trial
At trial, plaintiffs laid out scenes they said showed racial bias at DPS. One incident involved a captain taking a photo of Sams while he trimmed a horse’s hooves, then reading aloud a mocking message tied to the image, according to FOX 7 Austin. In another, a lieutenant allegedly accused a mounted unit leader of trying to turn the team into a "Buffalo Soldiers Unit."
McPherson’s complaint, as described in that coverage, also claims he was singled out with written warnings, denied routine requests, and loaded with heavier duties than his peers. He said those moves cost him promotion opportunities and took a toll on his mental health.
Lawyers push for deeper reforms
Leonard Mungo, general counsel for the National Black State Troopers Coalition and lead attorney for the plaintiffs, argued the verdict confirms what his clients had been saying for years: that DPS fostered a racially hostile environment. He urged state leaders to bring in an industrial-organizational psychologist to review and reform agency practices, according to KXAN.
Mungo characterized the testimony about DPS at trial as portraying a "dysfunctional family" and argued the decision shows that employees who challenge discrimination in court can, in fact, prevail.
What could happen next
This case has already taken a winding path. Parts of the broader dispute have previously been appealed, and further post-trial motions and appeals are likely, according to the Houston Chronicle. Until higher courts weigh in or state officials announce any internal reforms, it is unclear how quickly the judgment will be collected or whether DPS will overhaul how it handles promotions and personnel decisions.
