5 Armenian officers sue Glendale Police Department, alleging racial discrimination

Five current and former Armenian officers have filed a joint lawsuit against the Glendale Police Department, alleging years of discrimination, derogatory comments and harassment because of their race.

Officers John Balian and Robert Parseghian; Sgts. Vahak Mardikian and Tigran Topadzhikyan; and former Officer Benny Simonzad filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court last week, alleging myriad incidents of on-the-job discrimination and harassment.

Today, City Atty. Scott Howard rebuffed the claims made in the lawsuit, but said officials were still reviewing the case in its entirety. The Glendale News Press has the full story.

-- Jill-Marie Jones

Comments

[ltfd]

According to the federal government, Armenians are considered white, non-Hispanic.

So, is it racial discrimination against white males, or ethnic discrimination against Armenians? And, aren't they really Armenian-Americans?

[Nayeli Sanchez]

Re: 5 Armenian officers sue Glendale Police Department, alleging racial discrimination (Jill-Marie Jones 01-25-10)
It is very disturbing to see that racism is being practiced specially by people that are held to high standards. The officers are supposed to set an example but in this case they are doing just the opposite. Officers are meant to protect the law. It is so sad to hear that this type of discrimination is taking places among police co-workers. As a student that has experienced racial discrimination, I am very disappointed to see that this has gone on for years by those who are supposed to set an example.

[Emil Haroutunian]

Justice shall be served... I concur with this lawsuit.

[RabidinL.A.]

I and my oldest daughter have been victims of abusive armenians. My daughter was a victim of a deliberately induced, accident, perpetrated by armenians for insurance fraud and myself, two years later only blocks away, nearly a victim of what apparently was the same. The young armenian male was very angry at my driving skills and sign language. A disabled woman was plowed down on my block and bloodied on her scooter by a hit and run young armenian male. I saw her shortly after it happened. I have been recklessly endangered probably every day I get into my car from armenian drivers. I've been a victim of armenian mail fraud. The perpetrator has a penchant for driving taxis and running red lights. His naughty mail comes to my house, but he has never lived here. I'm sick and tired of them whining and snibbling "discrimination"! When it is they who are racist. Demanding recognition of their "genocide" with our government only so that they will get paid their insurance if so declared. More crime and more leniency for their own. I wonder how many criminals these same officers have protected only because they are armenian? You're not in the old country anymore. You are in our country now. Stop whining, give thanks for our country, protect it and us, and forgo all the bigotry associated with "helping your kind" even when criminal. You are in America. Embrace it or leave it. I have many more examples, 365/365 of offenses your people commit trying to murder me everyday behind the wheel. Be glad you have a job. Be gladder I have not seen you covering up what I see every day...but most of all, stop whining and stop trying to defraud we taxpayers and our government with little boy antics like these. Disgusting. Kick them off the force, no pay, no nothing.

[Aren A.]

In a modern city with over 45% of population comprised of Armenians, one wonders why there isn’t a proportionate representation of Armenians in the local law enforcement. Now it’s all starting to make sense. Sadly, discrimination against Armenians in California is nothing new – just ask farmers who first settled around Fresno area some 100 years ago. Some of us naively may’ve thought that those sort of race related hatful events are beyond us, but from what we hear, in Glendale this loathing is still very much alive. Maybe the time has come for the Glendale Police Department to clean the house and start retraining and reeducating its officers and make it a better, more tolerable place to work and protect citizens of Glendale.

[David Lopez]

Has nothing to do with race. You were investigated due to your involvement in organized crime. Now that there is a case pending against all of you...you decided to through the race card....Hmmmm...sounds familiar.

[anony]

what a bunch of lies. Get a life, 5 Armenian officers!

[Little Richie]

Cry Babies do not belong in the Police Department...........

[Mar Vista Guy]

What's a former Armenian?

[kooo]

I've lived in Glendale for many years before, and this sounds just ridiculous. Is the "Caucasus" mountains (the very term used to derive the ethnic group "Caucasian" = "white") located somewhere near Armenia? What's next? Italian and Irish Americans suing because the German and English Americans didn't promote enough of them to be top cops?

[Anon.]

I for one KNOW Topadzhikyan, and let me tell you he is a lier, he didnt state the sexual harrasment he imposed on women??? did he? Glendale has a high population of Armenians and they hog up ALL the jobs in Glendale, so where is the discrimination in that? They just want easy money, that is really what this is all about!!

[TheBigPicture]

This is just a few officers trying to get a few bucks by initiating a frivolous lawsuit...It actually happens all of the time...Hopefully it's just dismissed...There is no reason that the Glendale citizens should have to pay to line the pockets of these individuals...

[Objective]

None of us knows whether these lawsuits have a proper foundation and are based in truth. So, to those of you who "concur," take a deep breath and pause.

Notwithstanding, to those of you, especially RadibinLA, who have posted racist, racial and xenophobic comments, my question to you is: what does this article have to do with your clearly negative views of the Armenians who have "wronged" you? I, too, have been the victim of crimes perpetrated by Armenians. Does this mean that non-Armenians do not discriminate against Armenians, and if they do, are these officers not allowed to bring a lawsuit, something, this country, yes RabidinLA, THIS country, affords as a right to its citizens?

If you want a forum to vent about your racist views, I am confident that there are many sites and blogs available to you. But please, if you are attempting to make a statement that is remotely relevant, try to stay focused and keep your vile, nonsensical, one-sided and narrow-minded opinions to yourself.

After all, RabidinLA, if you are in fact originally from Los Angeles, then, you should know that California had a Republican Armenian governor some time ago, who also served in the Army. There are also many Armenians serving the public in various capacities, including judges and law enforcement officers. I would suggest some reading material, but I see no hope for you.

[Lisa]

Paulette Mardikian, wife of Vahak, was accused of collecting illegal campaign money and not actually living in Glendale, as required when she was running for city clerk in 2005. Not exactly related, but it makes you question the morals of both husband and wife.

[Blenda M]

There you go...when in doubt, file a lawsuit!

[Anon]

Some people with thier comments here seem to be just a bunch of ignorant people that do not have a clue with WHAT goes on in thier local police departments......it seems some red neck officers made some comments as well that belong to glendale pd...hmmmmmmm.........all of my life I have been hearing how poorly the Armenians are treated in Glendale from these red neck officers. Finally, it has been done to thier own officers for so being Armenian. These Armenian officers get hired for the department to help make the city a happier place to live and help the population of Armenians that have chosen to live thier and pay taxes and so forth. If you do not work in the department then you have no idea what is really going on. So keep your comments to your self. The people that need to be investigated...justice will be served!!!

[amy]

It sounds like these negative comments toward these police officers would be coming from the red necks in the department. I feel sorry for the red necks because they have probably been picked on during there childhood and they feel good about themselves when they have to harrass people. could you imagine if they treat there fellow officers who are armenian how they treat the armenians in the community. God only knows what goes on. to RABIDIN LA, you should be grateful these officers come to protect you! they risk there lives for you and everyone else in the community because thats what they chose to do as a career, not to be put down by all you racists. they have to go to work and get mistreated in the department and then when they take a stand they are whining? it sounds like your whining all about poor you.

[Armenian American]

I am an Armenian who lives in Glendale. I would like to say that YES some Armenians that do Fraud or race or drive crazy that give all Armenians a bad name deserve what the Glendale Police Department Gives them, same goes for all other races. All Races have good and bad to it. I am a Armenian who has lived all my life in America and lived in Los Angeles most of my Life. Moving to Glendale in the last 3 years has been the worst mistake ever. In my life I grew up with all races, hispanics, asians, blacks ALL RACES never had issues with any of them based on race. I have known good and bad in every race and have learned not to judge a race by one idiots lifestyle or mistakes.

As far as the Glendale Police Department, I am 50% 50% with this. I like that they control the city in a manner that needs to be done in order to control all of these illegal and fraudelent activities I am very much aware of.

On another hand I also have been discriminated by the Glendale Police Department for being Armenian and driving in the city. I have been stopped and searched and asked why I am in glendale when I live in LA. I have been cited for going 2 miles over the speed limit. I have been looked as a criminial anytime a police officer has drove by. Glendale Police Officers (SOME OF THEM) are racists and out of control. I am happy that the Officer's themselves have braught on this lawsuit and hope it opens up some eyes within the department to stop this harrasment of all races. Including YOURS.

I have stories of many discriminations by the Department and because no one has the guts to stand up to the city everyone has kept their mouths shut and paid their way to live their lives quitely.

These officers have put their lives and jobs on the line in order to get to some justice. I applaud the courage of these officers and look forward to some justice for once.

[huh]

Anon, I take it you work for the department? If not, why are you commenting on something you are just as ignorant about.

It's not the department's fault that there are not more Armenians serving as police officers. How about they sack up, go through the hiring process and do it for themselves.

[Abe Lincoln]

What a joke. First, the Burbank PD five liars and now the Glendale PD liars. The liars are an embarrassment to ALL police officers. I even heard the Glendale 5 were trying to recruit other Armenian officers to join their cause.

The Burbank PD lying 5 will lose their case and Glendale PD lying 5 will follow.

Thanks for the barrel of laughs. None of those 10 officers should be anywhere near a police badge.

[Anon]

Armenians are Caucasians, so they must be alleging ethnic discrimination.
As we all should know, there are good and bad in every ethnic group.

[Akop Akopyan]

What I don't understand is why are Sgts. Vahak Mardikian and Tigran Topadzhikyan suing the city when they are sergeants? It sounds to me as though they took the sergeants test and were promoted in the department so how is that discrimination? Isn't Sgt. Topadzhikyan the same guy who left his police car on the railroad tracks and let a train hit it? What happened to him there? Was he properly and fairly disciplined as would a non-Armenian officer be?

Is Officer Balian the same Armenian officer who has less than one year experience as a patrol officer but was promoted to a specialized detail BECAUSE he was Armenian? Was he not the P.I.O. along with Sgt. Lorenz and when the position was eliminated in order to save money, given the choice to go work any assignment we wanted?

Is Officer Parsegian the same officer who put in to become a school officer and got the position? Maybe I'm crazy but how is it they're being discriminated against?

Didn't Sgt. Mardikian recently take the lieutenants test recently and came out number in the top three?

If this "racism" is so rampant in the department then why didn't all100% of Armenian officers join in on this lawsuit? Maybe it's me but I just don't understand where the rasism is.

It's ashamed, these people only look like they're out to make a quick buck from the taxpayers of Glendale.

[erica]

I have watching the news and the glendale city attorney scott howard. I think he should spend more time truly investigating the police department than surfing. I guess Randy Adams had his own personal reason for leaving.

[Anon]

looks like some more red neck officers made comments!! i wonder why 2 people from the department had to SUDDENLY resign??? (chief??? and a red neck officer?????) hmmmmm
Did everyone know this??

[Huh]

Akop: I feel your pain brother. It's ludicrous. Whiners and complainers looking for a handout, pulling the race card...complete waste of the tax payers money.