SCRANTON — A Black Pennsylvania state trooper alleges he suffered a hostile work environment due to race discrimination and retaliation from his supervisors.
James Terrence Stevenson filed a complaint March 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the Pennsylvania State Police, David Ellis, William Colvin, Alan Trees, Aaron Martin and Justin Tkacik alleging discrimination.
Stevenson, an African American male, began working as a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper on Jan. 18, 2021, according to his suit. He claims that on Jan. 25, 2021, while on a domestic violence call, he was ordered by a field training officer to request a legal blood draw on the suspect despite no visible signs of impairment and that the officer referred to him as his "black pupil."
He also claims other supervisors made comments about minorities during his training and that one stated he hated "all (N-words)." Stevenson claims his supervisors and policymakers had a "custom" of race discrimination and harassment and that he faced retaliatory measures after complaining about the discrimination including failing to train and promote him and putting "frivolous" notations on his record. He alleges the defendants' actions caused him to suffer a hostile work environment.
Stevenson seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Joseph Pometto of Joe Pometto Law in Carnegie.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 1:22-CV-00445-CCC