White Cop Wins $620,000 for Discrimination

ST. LOUIS (CN) - A federal jury awarded the president of the St. Louis Police Officers Association $620,000 for being passed over for promotion due to his white race.

Sgt. David Bonenberger sued the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, its board and other officials in Federal Court in 2012.

Bonenberger claimed that city Police Academy Director Lt. Michael Muxo told him not to even apply for an assistant director opening because it was going to a black woman.

Bonenburger claimed that Muxo told him that a higher-up, Lt. Col. Reggie Harris, wanted to "bring color down to the academy."

Bonenberger applied but was not called for an interview. Angela Taylor, a black woman, was selected.

An all-white jury deliberated for four hours before returning the verdict Wednesday afternoon.

A Police Department spokesman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the Board of Police Commissioners would be briefed Thursday on the outcome of the lawsuit during a closed executive session of the board.

"At that time, the board will discuss the lawsuit and make recommendations regarding the next course of action," the department said in a statement. "The department is not at liberty to discuss personnel matters."

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