Submitted by Sergeant Leonard Mares, Mar 26, 2007 19:55

March 25, 2007

I want to thank the NYC National Latino Peace Officers Association (NLPOA) men and women and all those officers that have stood up against the discrimination and bias that they have experienced with the NYPD. Because of your demonstrated courage, the Denver Chapter of the NLPOA is currently pursuing litigation and justice against discrimination and bias towards officers of color in Denver, Colorado. I want to give proper respect and gratitude to the NLPOA EEO Director, Lieutenant Juan Espinal, for his leadership and direction with our Lawsuit and with assisting us with combating discrimination and bias. (Visit our web site - www. nlpoa-dplo.com)

This is only the beginning of these types of lawsuits across the United States. I have been contacted by numerous officers of color inquiring on how to start their legal actions against their abusive police departments. We must question why discrimination and bias is of epidemic proportions and why this is being allowed to occur within our Nation's Law Enforcement Agencies? The abusive culture and historical pattern and practice of discrimination and abuse by police departments has cultivated into the current acceptable illegal environment. There is lack of proper and fair "Check & Balance" to deal with these illegal acts. A fair, equal, and unbiased monitoring mechanism to deal with these egregious and illegal acts must be developed. The abusers continue to close doors of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) in violation of Federal and State Equal Employment Opportunity laws against officers of color and women. They continue to destroy lives with their illegal behavior. Worse yet, there are no consequences for their abusive and illegal acts.

Together, we will hold those abusers accountable. If they are mistreating officers of color in this manner, they are mistreating our community of color as well? I encourage officers of color, all officers, and community to stand and join with courageous organizations such as the National Latino Peace Officers Association and push for equality for everyone, Together, we will make the difference. We aren't asking for anything more but we won't accept anything less - Stand for equality and accountability.

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