Former San Francisco Police Officer Gets $455K in Racial Discrimination Case

In a city that prides itself on diversity and progressive values, it is disheartening when instances of discrimination and harassment arise in San Francisco workplaces. California law allows workers to pursue compensation and hold employers accountable for discriminatory treatment on the job. The discrimination must be based on certain protected characteristics, such as race, age, gender or disability, to warrant legal action.

A former police officer recently received a $455,000 settlement from the City of San Francisco in a 2018 lawsuit. The case, filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, alleged racial discrimination and harassment based on his Muslim faith and Afghan background.

Mohammad Habib, 38, claimed he faced racial discrimination and harassment during his employment with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD). He then allegedly suffered retaliation and wrongful termination when he tried to report the unlawful treatment.

Habib joined the San Francisco Police Academy in 2016 and became a police officer in February 2017. According to the lawsuit, he was transferred to SFPD’s Central Station a few months later for his probationary first year on the police force after completing five months of field training at Northern Station.

While Habib said he felt welcomed at Northern Station, things took a turn for the worse after his transfer to Central Station. He faced racial slurs and harassment due to his background as a Muslim man of Afghan heritage, according to the complaint.

Habib’s fellow SFPD officers and supervisor allegedly made repeated “derogatory remarks” about his culture, religion, and family. They vandalized his locker with graffiti and references to ISIS and bombs.

After reporting the incidents to department superiors in 2017, Habib claimed he faced retaliation and was ultimately fired during his probationary period. The complaint said instead of addressing his concerns and investigating his claims, Habib’s supervisors launched a campaign of “intimidation and retaliation” against him.

Habib was placed on desk duty in January 2018. In April of that year, he was notified that SFPD’s Internal Affairs team was investigating him. A month later, Habib got a letter from the department chief stating that he had been terminated. He was also issued a Brady notification.

California law requires prosecutors to maintain what is known as a Brady list of police officers who commit misconduct that rises to a certain threshold. Making false statements is an example of the type of wrongdoing that may cause an officer to be named on the list.

A police officer’s inclusion on the Brady list can harm their career. Habib’s lawsuit argued that because his name was added to the list, it hurt his ability to gain employment with other law enforcement agencies in the future.

SFPD maintained that Habib’s termination was justified as he had not been transparent and forthcoming about his background when applying to the force. According to court documents, he omitted details about his prior employment with the Oakland Police Department and was accused of impersonating a CIA agent in Napa. However, the allegation was unproven. Additionally, Habib claimed he had authorized the SFPD to carry out a full background check on him. 

While the SFPD did not admit any wrongdoing, Habib’s $455,000 settlement in the racial discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit marks the largest ever paid to a single law enforcement officer in recent years. Regardless of the specifics of Habib’s case, one thing remains clear: no worker should have to endure unlawful treatment at work.

Racial discrimination takes place when a job seeker or an existing employee faces hostility due to characteristics linked to their race, such as skin color, facial features or hair texture. This discrimination manifests in various ways, including the use of racial slurs and derogatory comments. Additionally, workers may be terminated, given limited opportunities for advancement or be treated unequally compared to their colleagues based on their race.

California law does not protect workers from casual remarks, jokes or isolated instances of discrimination, no matter how offensive they may be. However, an individual may have grounds for a racial discrimination case if the work environment becomes hostile and they endure severe or frequent harassment based on their race.

If you have faced discrimination at work, you may be entitled to compensation. While McCormack Law Firm was not involved with this case, we have experience helping workers resolve many types of workplace discrimination claims. Discuss your situation with a skilled San Francisco employment lawyer to determine whether you have a case. Contact McCormack Law Firm today for a free initial consultation.