The U.S. Department of Justice has sued the Colorado Springs Police Department on behalf of a SWAT officer who claims he was denied a promotion in retaliation for his wife’s victory in a class-action disability lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court on Monday and says that Officer Lance Lazoff applied for a promotion to sergeant nine months after his wife, Sandra Lazoff, successfully challenged the department’s policy on retiring officers who had disabilities.
“As a general rule, The City of Colorado Springs does not comment on pending litigation, especially in the case of employee issues,” city spokesman John B. Leavitt wrote in a statement on Tuesday. “Although we are limited in what information may be provided, the City denies the claim of retaliation and will strongly defend the actions of the police department.”
The former police chief, Luis Velez, claimed to have legitimate reasons for not promoting Lazoff after the officer applied for the job in November 2002.
But the Department of Justice says that the Colorado Springs Police Department violated the federal Americans with Disabilities Act because the department retaliated against Lazoff because he was outspoken in his support for his wife.
Lazoff holds a core position on the Police Department’s SWAT team and also serves as an instructor at national and state academies, the lawsuit says.
The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission investigated Lazoff’s claim that he was retaliated against and found “reasonable cause to believe Mr. Lazoff’s claim” and that he was not successful in achieving resolution, the lawsuit says.
Subsequently, Lazoff’s case was referred to the Department of Justice for litigation.
The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring the Police Department to promote Lazoff to sergeant and award him back pay with interest and related benefits.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
