WSMV, the NBC affiliate in Nashville, TN has been reporting on what appears to be a cut and dried case of racial discrimination within the ranks of their police department. Two former officers have filed a civil rights complaint in federal court. Former officers Anthony Hayes and Brian McCarthererns, both of whom are black, are seeking a total of more than $11 million, for acts of racism against them by members of the police force.
In November 2014, Millersville Police Chief Ronnie Williams, found himself in the middle of what turned out to be an ugly scandal. Longtime officer Hayes accused Captain Mark Palmer of leaving a Ku Klux Klan publication, Klansman's Voice, in his police department mailbox Attached to it was a Post-It note that read "This was left for you. Don't let your subscription run out."
Channel 4 obtained recordings, given to them by a third part not involved in the lawsuit. These may be the most damning evidence of all.
In the recorded conversation between Captain Palmer and Chief Williams, Palmer admitted to writing the note, but denied placing it on the publication or putting it in anyone's locker.
"It's on it. It said The Klansman's Voice," Williams said on the recording.
"Well, it's like I told Robert, … that Post-It note is more than two and a half years old," Palmer replied. "And if you want to go back and look, you'll see I'm telling the truth."
The lawsuit also claims that this was one of many instances where Palmer attempted to "intimidate, humiliate and degrade" Hayes.
The suit says Palmer once took Hayes to a home of a "former leader of the KKK" for an unexplained visit. On other occasions, the suit says, Palmer said to Hayes, "I don't like n****rs". Captain Palmer was never fired, but given a brief suspension.
A former city manager wrote a memo saying he didn't find any malice and would have employees take a "refresher class in social sensitivity."
Former officer Hayes said he complained up the chain of command and even asked for an FBI investigation, but was stonewalled. A few days later, McCarthererns joined the lawsuit. He said Palmer used the same discriminatory language with him, "I don't like "the N-word".
Other dialogue in the conversation has raised questions about whether this behavior was a pattern of racist behavior among coworkers.
At one point during the conversation, Chief Williams practically dismissed the incident all together.
"My thing was, all right, if he did it, there was no malice whatsoever," "It was a joking thing. Anthony has done the same thing," Chief Williams said.
During the conversation, Williams explained why Palmer was given a brief suspension and how bad the whole thing looks for the city of Millersville.
"This is a political f**king nightmare. Any time you get a white guy picking on a black guy, it's a nightmare," Williams said.
"Which ain't fair, because a black guy can pick on a white guy all he wants to," Palmer replied.
Another part of the recording focuses on allegations that Palmer had expressed his disdain for black people and used the n-word.
"I told him, I said, 'I have no use for an n-word, and you don't have to be any particular color to be one,'" Palmer said. "Look it up in Webster's. There's a definition for it."
"Yeah, Spanish, Portugal," Williams said.
"It's the lowest form of human life, is part of it in there," Palmer said.
"Yeah, uneducated," Williams said.
Here is a link to Webster's definition of the word being defended in the above conversation. I would like to reiterate – these are the Police Chief and Police Captain of the Millersville Police Force.
P.S. Chief Williams – FYI. Portugal, not a language.
The hearing for this case is set in federal court this week.
*PLEASE click on the link and listen to the recordings yourself. In order to have the full experience, you must hear the accents.
(H/T: WSMV Channel 4 Featured Image: Facebook
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