Complaint: Chief promoting based on race

FORT LAUDERDALE — At least two Fort Lauderdale cops are complaining they have been passed over for promotions in favor of minority colleagues by the new police chief, who they claim has made public comments about a “minority-first agenda.”

Attorney Tonja Haddad Coleman

represents the officers, who are white. She confirmed one complaint was formally filed Tuesday and another Wednesday with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which investigates workplace discrimination.

City Manager Chris Lagerbloom wrote in a memo to the police department on Tuesday that he was freezing all promotions until further notice “to address concerns surrounding the recent police department promotions.” The promotions already made are not rescinded, but the ones made since August will be undergoing review, he wrote.

Lagerbloom did not respond to multiple emails about his memo.

Larry Scirotto, a former assistant chief from Pittsburgh, took over the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in August as chief.

A spokeswoman for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department said of 14 promotions since August, nine of those people are white.

But the spokeswoman would not comment about the allegations of why certain people were promoted, or the chief ’s alleged “agenda,” or Tuesday’s memo by the city manager, instead referring questions to City Hall.

Fort Lauderdale City Hall spokesman Mike Jachles said that because the issue “involves potential complaints of discrimination by city employees” the city would not be commenting.

Haddad Coleman said: “In my opinion enough people have come forward to question the veracity of the promotional process and whether or not procedure was properly followed.”