Police Chief Accused of Discrimination

A police lieutenant in the Santa Fe area has recently filed a discrimination complaint against the Police Chief, Ray Rael. The lieutenant, Louis Carlos, filed the complaint with the Human Resources Department of the city along with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Carlos claims that Chief Rael, since working as Chief of the Department, has been trying his hardest to have Carlos removed from part of the administration because he has a strong dislike of the Mexican heritage and Carlos is a Mexican American. Rael is Hispanic himself and says that the allegations made against him are simply false. He also says that he does not mind if an investigation needs to go on because he knows that the accusations are absolutely not true.

During the month of July, Carlos requested that an investigation go through, shortly after he first sent a complaint to the City Manager, Robert Romero. At that time, he also sent a complaint into the Human Resources Department. During the time of his complaints, he claims that he lives in fear that the chief will retaliate against him due to his heritage. He felt as though an investigation was absolutely necessary at this point. In his complaint, he has cited three separate incidents in which he feels as though he was discriminated against by the Chief. He says that in a meeting that took place in February, Rael told him that he was acting brash due to the pride he has of his Mexican heritage.

When asked about the possibility of an investigation, Rael said, “This is a matter for our Human Resources Department and whatever investigators are hire.” He also said, “It is standard practice that individuals separate themselves from the complaint and let the process run its course.” In the meantime, Carlos has been put on patrol duty but he has not received a demotion from his position as a lieutenant. A staffing supervisor, Chief William Johnson, said that the only reason Carlos had been put on patrol was because assistance was needed in that particular area and there are currently two lieutenants who are out right now, one who is on medical leave and another who has chosen to retire from his potion. Johnson made it clear that the move had nothing to do with the complaint he has made against Rael. Once there are more lieutenants available, Carlos will be transferred back to the criminal investigations section.

When asked for comment, Carlos declined to provide commentary on the complaints he has made against Rael. Instead, he issued a statement in which he said, “Fortunately there are federal and state laws meant to protect employees from discriminating practices by supervisors and employers. I must have faith in the system to investigate the serious allegations I have brought forth.”