United States

Lubbock Settles Police Hiring Discrimination US Lawsuit

A West Texas city has settled a 2015 federal lawsuit that alleged police discriminated against Hispanics and women in hiring entry-level officers.

Lubbock agreed to pay affected individuals to settle the Department of Justice lawsuit. The city, in the voluntary consent decree, did not release specifics on the payments or other awards to affected job candidates.

The lawsuit alleged Lubbock police violated the Civil Rights Act in the way the department administered written and physical exams.

Records showed a higher percentage of Hispanics failed the written exam, while a higher percentage of women failed the physical test. The time frame was early 2010 until mid-2015.

Lubbock initially sought to have last December's lawsuit dismissed, saying the employment actions were based on legitimate nondiscriminatory reasons.

The city announced the settlement Friday.

Copyright The Associated Press
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