Anchorage police detectives sue city, claiming racism in department

Anchorage detectives sue city, claiming racism

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Two Anchorage police detectives are suing the city, claiming racism within the police department.

In their lawsuit filed Tuesday, Alvin Kennedy and Eliezer Feliciano accuse the department of discriminating against minority officers and members of the public.

A spokesman for Police Chief Mark Mew says the chief had not seen the lawsuit Tuesday and could not comment. City Attorney Dennis Wheeler also says he had not seen the suit.

The Anchorage Daily News reports that Kennedy is African American, and Feliciano is Hispanic. Both have been with the department 20 years.

The lawsuit claims Kennedy was racially profiled by another officer while working undercover. It also claims minority officers in the department are disciplined differently than white officers.

Information from: Anchorage Daily News, www.adn.com