El Paso settles police official’s bias lawsuit

In September 2008, El Paso Police Department Assistant Chief of Staff Diana Kirk filed a lawsuit charging the city with discrimination and retaliation. Now the El Paso City Council has voted to settle the suit, which alleged bias against Hispanic and female members of the police department.

Kirk, who is Hispanic, claimed Richard Wiles, former city police chief and current sheriff, showed favoritism to non-Hispanics and men. She alleged that when Wiles reorganized the police department, he promoted and gave raises to all the deputy chiefs (all of whom were non-Hispanic), while denying a promotion and raise for Kirk.

The lawsuit also alleged that current El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen retaliated against her for filing her discrimination suit against Wiles.