Lawsuit: Fort Collins police discriminated on basis of race

A former Fort Collins police detective is suing the department's top leadership and the city on grounds that he was harassed because of his Brazilian heritage.

He alleges leaders continuously engaged in discriminatory and retaliatory practices, even after the local police labor group voiced frustrations, according to court records.

Kennyberg Araujo says his direct supervisor, Sgt. Gary Shaklee, has a history of targeting minority members of Fort Collins Police Services and that he was targeted and discriminated against because of his Hispanic appearance, accent and Brazilian background.

Shaklee reportedly over-criticized Araujo's ability to complete paperwork, retaliated against him when he voiced concerns and called him "lazy and incompetent," a phrase repeatedly uttered when speaking about Hispanic employees, according to a civil lawsuit filed earlier this year in Colorado District Court.

Read more: http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2016/08/23/lawsuit-foco-police-discriminated-basis-race/89199744/