Former Bluffton police files age discrimination complaint

By RENEE DUDLEY
rdudley@islandpacket.com
843-706-8138

Published Thursday, December 3, 2009

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EEOC investigation update

A U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigator spent three days in Bluffton last month investigating separate complaints made by three black former police officers who alleged they were racially discriminated against, an attorney for the officers said Thursday.

Former officers Gerry Brown and Thomas Loving resigned in 2008 to join the Hardeeville Police Department.

Alexis Webber, a former detective, resigned soon after, according to reports.

All three alleged they were not promoted as quickly as white officers, according to the EEOC complaints. Webber also alleged she was discriminated against because of her gender, Columbia attorney Donald Gist, who represents all three officers, said Thursday.

Town attorney Terry Finger said the town has contested all the officers' charges andnone of the three had filed complaints with the town during their employment.

It's unclear how soon the agency will make a decision on the matter, Gist said.

A former Bluffton police lieutenant suing the town for wrongful termination has filed a state complaint alleging that Police Chief David McAllister discriminated against her because of her age, according to a document obtained Thursday by The Island Packet.

Former Lt. Katherine Sours, 53, said in the complaint that McAllister "made comments about my age and how old I was on numerous occasions," according to the Nov. 25 Charge of Discrimination made to the S.C. Human Affairs Commission.

"My position was not cut or eliminated," the complaint says. "A younger employee is currently performing my former job duties. ... Two less senior lieutenants who were younger than me were not laid off."

Town attorney Terry Finger said he hadn't seen the complaint and declined comment on it. He said at least one other town employee was laid off at the same time as Sours.

McAllister also said he hadn't seen the complaint. He said the allegations in Sours' lawsuit are false.

"I look forward to my day in court," he said.

The discrimination charge also was filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Former Bluffton police files age discrimination complaint

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EEOC investigation update

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