Torrance Agrees to Changes in Settling Bias Case

The city of Torrance has successfully settled its three-year dispute with the U.S. Justice Department, which had accused the South Bay city of racial bias in hiring and employment of police officers and firefighters.

The last issue was resolved Friday when the city agreed to establish guidelines for pre-employment background investigations of police officers and firefighters, said Lisa Von Eschen, a private attorney who has been representing the city. The Justice Department had maintained that the city’s employment background checks were discriminatory.

In June, a federal judge ruled that the Justice Department had failed to prove that Torrance gave racially biased tests to people applying for police and fire jobs.

Then, in October, city officials agreed to slightly modify its police training and workplace practices in exchange for the Justice Department dropping allegations that the police maintained a racially hostile work environment.

The changes in city practices are seen as relatively minor compared to the major demands made initially by the Justice Department, and city officials are claiming a victory.

Torrance was not required to pay money to settle the case, but it did incur about $3 million in legal fees. With the dispute resolved, the city will ask the Justice Department to pay about half of the $3 million, Torrance City Atty. John Fellows said.

“I suppose it feels good [to win], but on the other hand, it feels lousy to spend $3 million to vindicate yourself,” Fellows said.