FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2007 WWW.USDOJ.GOV CRT (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON - The Justice Department filed a lawsuit yesterday alleging that the City of Colorado Springs Police Department refused to promote Officer Lance Lazoff to sergeant in retaliation for his association with and assistance to his wife who was the lead plaintiff in a successful class action lawsuit against the police department under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
According to the governments suit, filed in federal district court in Denver, Lazoff serves on the Police Departments Tactical Enforcement Unit (S.W.A.T. team), teaches S.W.A.T. tactics nationally, and has had numerous commendations. Lazoff applied for promotion nine months after the settlement involving his wife, Sandy, who successfully challenged the police departments policy of involuntarily retiring police officers with disabilities. Lazoff publicly supported and assisted his wifes efforts. Although the former police chief claimed to have legitimate reasons for refusing to promote Lazoff, the governments complaint alleges that the real reason was to punish Lazoff for activity that is protected under the ADA.
The anti-retaliation provisions of our civil rights laws are vital to their efficacy, said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. If employers can exact retribution for an individuals assertion of his or her federal rights, or the rights of a spouse, then those rights become illusory. The United States suit brought under the ADA seeks a court order requiring the Police Department to offer Lazoff a promotion to sergeant, together with other make-whole relief including the payment of back pay with interest, and related benefits.
More information about the ADA can be obtained on the Department of Justices ADA home page at http://www.ada.gov. Information about the ADA is also available on the Departments toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY). 07-985
Source: US Department of Justice
