Officer’s Suit Charges LAPD With Racism : Police: Black sergeant says that he was subjected to repeated slurs and that supervisors refused to deal with the problem.

A veteran Los Angeles police officer filed suit against the LAPD on Friday, accusing it of a continuing pattern of discrimination against him and other black officers and contending that police officials have refused to deal with the problem.

Sgt. William J. Wimberley--on leave from his jail division duties because of what are described as “duty-incurred” back injuries--says that he was repeatedly subjected to racial slurs, that some white officers refused to work with him and that the word nigger was scratched on his car in a department parking lot.

Wimberley says that when he complained to supervisors, he was told he was “too thin-skinned,” placed under surveillance and threatened with discipline.

The suit singles out Capt. Michael E. Melton, Wimberley’s recent supervisor in the Central Jail Division, for special criticism, accusing Melton of racist outbursts, of threatening officers who complained about racism and of ordering Wimberley to return to duty against his doctor’s orders.

Melton could not be reached for comment.

Attached to the Los Angeles Superior Court suit are affidavits from several current and former LAPD officers--one of them a white sergeant in the jail division--supporting many of Wimberley’s accusations. The suit seeks general and compensatory damages.

Lt. John Dunkin, commander of the LAPD’s press relation unit, said Friday that because of the pending litigation, the department could not comment on the suit. Dunkin said that, for the same reason, Melton did not wish to respond to the allegations.

In 1991, the Christopher Commission--assembled to study the Police Department in the wake of the videotaped Rodney King beating--concluded that racism was widespread in the department and made sweeping recommendations to address the problem.

Last month, impatient with the department’s slow pace in acting on a number of those recommendations, the civilian Police Commission set 1996 deadlines for their implementation.

Wimberley, now 50, joined the department on Oct. 23, 1973.

He says in the lawsuit that while serving as a drill instructor for his rookie class at the Police Academy, he overheard a white officer say, “There goes the class led by the nigger.” He also says a physical training instructor at the academy told him, “You should take your black ass back to the cotton fields.” And he says that when he complained about these remarks to an academy supervisor, he was told he should tolerate such conduct.

It was a pattern that was to continue throughout Wimberley’s career, the suit says, reeling off a long list of accusations:

* Shortly after being assigned to the 77th Street Division in 1974, a white officer at roll call told Wimberley, “Go sit in front. I don’t trust any nigger behind me.”

* Several white officers on the 77th Street gang detail refused to work with him as a partner. Racist remarks were directed at black officers and suspects. Someone placed a live chicken in one black officer’s locker. Another black officer, saying he couldn’t take the racism any longer, threatened a lieutenant with a gun.

* While accompanying a black woman prisoner as he entered the station in plain clothes, Wimberley was confronted by two white officers who yelled “Freeze, niggers! Hit the wall!” even though he was wearing his police badge in plain sight. When Wimberley complained, the watch commander said, “What do you expect? You’re black.”

* Wimberley was labeled a “black militant” by some white officers, and several threatened not to back him up if he needed assistance in the field.

* When he applied for transfers to the narcotics, detective and Metropolitan Division squads, he was told that they “had their quota of blacks.”

* Someone broke into his police locker and pinned a note on his coat that read, “Nigger go home.” About the same time, someone scratched a racial slur on his car. When Wimberley complained, a supervisor warned him that pursuing the complaints would jeopardize his chances of promotion.

In April, 1986, Wimberley was transferred to the Central Jail Division. If anything, the racial harassment intensified, he says. According to the suit:

* Wimberley complained to supervisors several times about incidents of racism, but these complaints were ignored. Eventually, Melton called him in and told him, “I intend to change your black attitude.” When Wimberley protested that his performance evaluations had always been outstanding, Melton threatened to give him poor ratings.

* After a doctor placed Wimberley on disability leave because of complications arising from a series of injuries sustained over his career, Melton ordered him back to duty.

* During a roll call meeting in August, 1994, Melton warned, “All you black officers better stop throwing spears at me.” When Wimberley complained, Melton told him, “There are too many blacks and Mexicans in this division, and I will soon take care of that.” Melton tried to have Wimberley transferred, but Assistant Chief Frank Piersol quashed the transfer.

One of the affidavits accompanying the suit is from Sgt. Michael Lords, a white officer who swore under oath that Melton tried to get him to make false accusations against Wimberley. Lords said that when he refused to do so, Melton tried to have him transferred.

In another affidavit, Officer William Driver said he heard racist remarks while Wimberley was serving at 77th Street and overheard a white officer refusing to work with Wimberley.

Sgt. Paul Schoul said the chicken was placed in his locker and said he believes the incident was “racially motivated.” Sgts. Chester Ross and Wayne Debord backed up Lords’ accusations. Ross said Melton tried to have him transferred when he insisted on telling the truth.