Sixth Burbank officer sues department over discrimination

A decorated Asian American police detective filed a civil lawsuit today against the Burbank Police Department, alleging that he was the victim of discrimination and retaliation before being unlawfully fired.

Christopher Lee Dunn, who won the Medal of Valor as a Los Angeles Police Department officer before joining the Burbank force, argued in a 22-page complaint that he was subjected to years of racial taunts and discouraged from joining the department's narcotics unit because he was not white. After success with another unit, the lawsuit alleges he was targeted by management before eventually being run out of the department.

In May, five Burbank police officers sued the department and seven current police officials, alleging that they tolerated an environment in which officers commonly used slurs about race, ethnicity and sexual preference directed at them, their colleagues, suspects and the public at large.

Dunn's suit, filed separately, seeks civil penalties and compensatory damages. The Burbank city attorney's office did not immediately return a call for comment.

In addition to the Medal of Valor and the 1999 Top Cop Award, which was presented to him by then-President Bill Clinton, Dunn was the recipient of the 2007 Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Award and the Professional Esteem Award from the Burbank City Council.

According to the suit, Dunn's troubles began over his efforts to join an elite narcotics unit. Dunn alleges that he initially was discouraged by members of the “all-white” unit who said they did not want work with non-whites. When he ultimately was promoted, he alleges that he was subjected to racist jokes and comments.

Dunn's suit alleges that he was given less desirable assignments in the unit despite having more narcotics seizures than any other Burbank officer. When one of the offending colleagues was transferred, Dunn claims the harassment got worse.

A 2007 complaint against Dunn alleged that he had “tipped off” an informant about a Culver City Police Department investigation. The informant was arrested in possession of enough narcotics to support felony trafficking charges and ultimately recanted her allegations against Dunn.

Dunn was first transferred to another unit and later placed on paid administrative leave. Despite an unsubstantiated complaint that did not result in criminal charges, Dunn alleges that he was terminated on charges that he interfered with the investigation and for insubordination.

—Andrew Blankstein

Comments

[Fernando]

Figures. The police in Burbank are so suffocating I avoid going to that part of town unless I just can't avoid it.

[Paul]

Give me a break. Every time someone released for non-performance or whatever they play the RACE CARD. They play the race card to get hired (affirmative action) and play it when they are supposedly "forced out." Nobody in todays time would ever use racial slurs on the job. People are too smart. Did this cop ever use self-deprecating humor at his expense that opened the door for a good laugh? It's a con-job to say he was forced out. Go back to the LAPD who when I was pulled over by a asian cop with my asian girlfriend made comments to her about sticking with her own race. It's a two way street. Deal with it.

[Collis Huntington]

Its sad to see so many typos in a published article. Where is the editor?

[guyeichberg]

why am i not surprised. i bet that this is more prevelant in other police departments too. Such a shame.

[hiz wife]

i am going through the same problem with burkbank tey give off comments such as "YOU PEOPLE" and "WHY Y'ALL COME OUT HERE" and their was many othe things they say, but what can you do they are their own law that's what they stated in a comment too my mom basiclly DEAL WITH IT.

[Stretch]

Good for these officers that are risking their careers to come forward.I don't think 6 officers is fluke or from laziness. If I were in charge I would be worried!

[John]

I think the BPD does a great job. Paul is correct. It happens all to often that when someone is let go or demoted he / she automatically reaches for the race / gender card. It has happened so many times before (illegitimately) that I now all I hear is a boy crying wolf.

[Andy]

I love John and Paul's ignorant comments.

We have a decorated officer here, one of the best in LA, who has a reputation for integrity and excellence. Did you even read the article?

So if an Asian American officer is subject to discrimination and racism within his unit, he has to DEAL WITH IT?
If a decorated Asian American officer files what seems to be a justified lawsuit, alongside FIVE other officers, he's pulling the RACE CARD???

You guys are full of it. You're making garbage assumptions without looking at all the details. In fact, you're assuming Officer Lee Dunn is pulling the race card (lying) because he happens to be non-white.

So let's ignore the long standing legacy of racism and discrimination that has tainted the LAPD for decades and put our heads in the sand like Paul and John.

Some people will stoop so low to protect white privilege.

[Asian]

It's really not about the race card but the pervasiveness of white affirmative action, where less qualified white officers feel threatened that they cannot compete with a more qualified and decorated Asian American police veteran and decide to go racial.

I've seen that plenty of times in the workforce. It's quite prevalent and very noticeable. There are a few of you posting who seem to be afraid of real competition.

These morons tend to go socialist when it comes to their own people. No surprise there.

[JOHN GARCIA]

The whole government in California is corrupt. Is anybody surprised?
If you dont know how to steal in government you arent worth your salt as a politician or cop!