A Muslim, Arab American officer in Eastpointe says his own department turned on him after he reported a coworker’s anti-Muslim slur, according to a civil rights complaint filed with the state this week.
The complaint, submitted Wednesday to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, accuses the Eastpointe Police Department of anti-Muslim harassment and retaliation. It claims the trouble began after the officer overheard a colleague use a pointed slur while on duty, and that instead of backing him up, supervisors failed to properly report the incident and later disciplined and harassed him.
According to CAIR-MI, the organization filed the complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights yesterday. CAIR says the filing accuses the department of religious discrimination, retaliation and maintaining a hostile work environment, and it is calling for a full investigation and corrective action.
What the complaint says
The complaint, which CAIR posted online, alleges the officer overheard a fellow officer say "F*** all Muslims" while on duty and in front of supervisors. The filing claims a lieutenant who heard the remark did not follow department reporting rules.
From there, the complaint says, the officer faced false accusations, damage to his reputation and harsher discipline than other employees. It also alleges that a supervising officer went to the complainant’s wife’s small business in uniform and made intimidating comments. The full filing is available from CAIR-MI.
State and federal law
The complaint cites the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act, along with federal Title VII as the legal basis for the discrimination and retaliation claims.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights handles state discrimination complaints and accepts filings through its Public Portal, which offers intake forms, document submission and case tracking tools. More information about filing a complaint and how MDCR processes cases is available from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
What officials are saying
CAIR-MI says it contacted Eastpointe’s police chief, who indicated that he was following up, but the group reports there was no further communication after that initial exchange.
CBS News Detroit aired a brief report yesterday highlighting the allegations in the filing. The city lists police contact information on its official website.
Legal implications
If the Michigan Department of Civil Rights accepts the complaint, the agency can investigate, seek conciliation and, when warranted, order corrective action or other remedies under state law.
The officer can also pursue federal remedies under Title VII through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Possible outcomes of a proven workplace discrimination case include discipline for offending employees, training orders, back pay and other damages. CAIR-MI says a full and transparent investigation is necessary to help restore public trust in the department.
