PHILADELPHIA — A former Chester County detective chief alleges he faced discrimination and retaliation because of his race.
Kevin Dykes filed a complaint Jan. 3 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against County of Chester and Deborah Ryan alleging violation of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and other claims.
According to Dykes' complaint, he began working as chief of detectives and was appointed by Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan in 2016. Dykes, an African American, alleges he made several complaints about the inequities in his salary and that in November of 2019, when Ryan took over as district attorney, he was terminated for being a part of the Hogan administration.
He claims another co-worker from the Hogan administration who is Caucasian remained in his position for another year until he could receive his pension and that he was the only one from the previous administration to be fired. He further claims Ryan falsely accused him of unauthorized use of his county-issued credit card. Dykes claims the defendants' actions were a campaign to discredit him "in the eyes of his new employer and other county employees."
Dykes seeks monetary relief of more than $150,000, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Dolores Troiani of Troiani & Gibney LLP in Berwyn.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:22-CV-000004-MAK