Judge tosses cops’ discrimination suit

A state district judge has granted the city of Austin’s request for a summary judgment in a lawsuit filed by 17 Austin police officers who claimed their transfers from an elite division were discriminatory.

State District Judge Karin Crump did not cite a reason for the dismissals in her Aug. 12 order, which city officials received this week.

The lawsuit, filed in 2013, was the result of a series of transfers from the organized crime division, which handles major human trafficking and drug smuggling investigations.

The suit claimed that most of the officers transferred out of the unit were over 40 and minorities, while officers sent into it were younger and white.

Crump allowed a claim of retaliation by Cmdr. Donald Baker to move forward. Baker alleged that department brass penalized him for pointing out possible discrimination in the transfers.

Attorney Mark Crampton, who represents the officers, said Thursday that, “Obviously we are pleased with the result on Commander Baker and appealing the others. I’m confident the court of appeals will see things our way.”