A Los Angeles Police Department detective has filed a legal claim with the city, alleging that he endured physical and sexual abuse while playing for an amateur football team composed of LAPD officers. The claim was filed on behalf of the detective, who has been with the department for over 10 years. His attorneys made the announcement on Wednesday.
In a statement, employment and civil rights attorney Bernard Alexander, who helped file the claim, called it ironic that LAPD officers, who are sworn to protect the public, engage in barbaric hazing conduct against each other under the guise of bonding. Alexander emphasized the need to put an end to these hazing rituals and all forms of abuse within the police force.
Alexander further stated that the sexualized and abusive hazing experienced by the detective reflects a pervasive culture of physical and mental abuse endured by LAPD officers, including other members of the LA Centurions football team.
While the LAPD spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation, the announcement of the legal claim was made at the offices of a Los Angeles law firm that represents the detective. The alleged victim was not present during the announcement due to privacy concerns and fear of retribution.
According to the attorneys, the detective was recruited by officers and supervisors when he was training at the Police Academy in 2009. They allegedly told him that joining the Centurions football team would benefit his career, while rejecting the invitation could harm his chances of promotion.
The claim alleges that from the first tryouts, the detective faced harassment from senior players. One day after practice, the claim states that veteran teammates instructed the rookies to go to the locker room, where they were confined against their will. The detective stood waiting as the rookies were individually taken away. He claims to have heard yelling, laughing, crying, and screams of pain until he was the last one remaining. He was then allegedly ordered to strip naked and subjected to liquid and object bombardment when he refused and resisted.
The detective further alleges that during the assault, fellow officers humiliated and berated him while probing his body with an object, possibly a beer or water bottle.
The claim also mentions that officers pressured the detective to remain silent about the abuse by referencing the retribution that followed the shooting death of LAPD Officer Ricardo Lizarraga in 2004. The man charged with Lizarraga’s murder died in a Los Angeles jail cell, purportedly as an act of revenge orchestrated by Centurion Chairman Donald Payne.
According to the detective, multiple officers warned him that reporting the abuse would result in swift retribution, considering the power the Centurions held to ruin his career or even cause harm to him.
The claim concludes by stating that the detective suffered an injury during the 2009 season, which prevented him from continuing to play for the Centurions. He never returned to the team.
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