Former Sheriff Donald McDonald was accused of discrimination and wrongful termination in a lawsuit filed by former emergency dispatcher Lauren N. Trujillo. Hired in 2019 and fired in 2021, Trujillo alleged that McDonald frequently referred to individuals of Hispanic ancestry as the ‘blackwater association,’ implying they were the ‘sewer water of the community.’ She also claimed that McDonald denied her reasonable requests related to her health condition and retaliated against her for advocating on behalf of a rape victim who was denied timely medical attention. The county denied these allegations, stating that her termination may have been due to unsatisfactory performance. The case is in early stages of litigation as of November 2024.
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