SEATTLE (AP) — A recently demoted Seattle police commander is suing the city of Seattle and interim police Chief Adrian Diaz, alleging discrimination and unfair blame for a flashpoint “pink umbrella incident” during police clashes with racial justice demonstrators. Steve Hirjak contends in his lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court this week, that Diaz made him the scapegoat for the misconduct of another commander and punished him unfairly compared to other white officials, The Seattle Times reported. That commander, Lt. John Brooks, ordered riot-gear-clad officers to unleash tear gas and blast balls into a crowd on June 1, 2020. Diaz overruled OPA’s recommendations and blamed and demoted Hirjak, a 27-year officer and the department’s first Asian American assistant chief, who was the city’s overall incident commander for the protests. Under state law, damage claims must be filed at least 60 days before a government entity can be sued.

Source: thestar October 01, 2021 00:56 UTC