Black cops seek $8M in University of Washington racism claim

Five Black officers with the University of Washington Police Department have filed claims of racism against the department and are seeking $8 million in damages, alleging they were routinely insulted and demeaned by co-workers and supervisors.

Officer Damien Taylor said a white supervisor referred to him as "‘(his) own negro’ on a call and later laughed at me when I confronted him about it." Officer Karinn Young said "a banana was put in front of my locker with a note reading, ‘Here’s your lunch, you ******* monkey.’" The officers said University of Washington Police Chief John Vinson, who is also Black, was repeatedly criticized by White officers for hiring too many Black people.