Sgt. Manuel Garcia, the first Hispanic and bilingual officer in the department since 1988, alleged that he was denied promotions based on his race and subjected to a hostile work environment. In 2010, despite ranking first on the eligibility roster for a lieutenant position, he was passed over in favor of a white officer ranked third. After being promoted to lieutenant in 2011, he reported unfair treatment by his commanding officer, Capt. David Fudge, and was subsequently demoted back to sergeant. Garcia filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming civil rights violations and retaliation. The city investigated the allegations and determined they were without merit, planning to vigorously defend against the claims.
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