Officers in California Awarded $4M For Post-Shooting Discrimination

A jury has awarded a total of $4 million to two Los Angeles, Calif. police officers who sued the department alleging discrimination and retaliation after the shooting of an unarmed autistic man five years ago.

The jury awarded $1.9 million to 34-year-old Officer George Diego Thursday and over $2 million to 35-year-old Officer Allan Corrales.

The two men had been on desk duty since the 2010 shooting in Koreatown. They alleged that as Latinos their restrictions were discrimination after the shooting of Steven Eugene Washington, who was black.

Chief Charlie Beck denied that race was involved in the restrictions, saying the men were on desk duty because of the department’s potential liability.

The city attorney and the department said in a statement that they were still deciding on their next move.