Denver police Lt. Jimmy Martinez filed a letter of intent to sue the city Thursday, claiming he was discriminated against because he was not promoted to captain despite ranking No. 1 on a list of eligible candidates.
Martinez, a 23-year veteran, is seeking $1 million in damages.
He has 180 days to file a lawsuit.
Manager of Safety Al LaCabe, who makes the final decisions on promotions, declined to discuss Martinez’s case or to say why he promoted other lieutenants who ranked lower than Martinez on the March 2005 list.
The letter comes a week after Martinez and seven other Latino officers announced they filed a federal civil rights complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Justice.
That complaint says the officers were forced to tolerate a hostile work environment and discrimination in hiring, promotions and discipline. At least 12 more officers have expressed an interest in joining the action, said the secretary for the Denver Latino Peace Officer Association, Sgt. Leonard Mares.
The Civil Service Commission says the decision not to promote Martinez may have come from a suspension he received two years ago over a fight while he was working off-duty as nightclub security.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-820-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.
