Cop is told to tone down the gayness
Officer told to 'tone down' gayness settles suit for $10.25M
CLAYTON, Mo. — St. Louis County has agreed to a $10.25 millionsettlement with a gay police lieutenant who says he was passed over for promotion 23 times and was told to “tone down” his “gayness."
The agreement with Keith Wildhaber was finalized Monday, hours after St. Louis County Police Head Jon Belmar announced he is retiring, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
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Although jurors awarded Wildhaber nearly $20 million in October, each side had reason to negotiate because Wildhaber could keep a larger share of the award by settling.
Wildhaber, who was a sergeant at the time of the trial, could not be reached for comment by the Post-Dispatch. And his attorney, Russ Riggan, didn't immediately go back a phone note from The Paired Press early Tuesday.
Belmar promoted Wildhaber to lieutenant in December, placing him in command of a new diversity and inclusion unit.
HERE'S HOW MUCH POLICE OFFICERS MAKE TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
“This lawsuit acknowledges what Lt. Wildhaber survived in
Keith Wildhaber, gay officer told to tone down sexuality, wins $20m payout
Sergeant told to tone down 'gayness' will lead novel diversity unit
CLAYTON, Mo. — A gay St. Louis County police sergeant who was awarded nearly $20 million in a discrimination lawsuit has been promoted to lieutenant and picked as the leader of a newly created diversity and inclusion unit.
Police Leader Jon Belmar said in a news release Thursday night announcing the unit that the department “must demonstrate to our officers and to our people that we prioritize diversity and inclusion."
The announcement comes after a jury dictated in October in favor of Keith Wildhaber, who says he was passed over for promotion 23 times and was told to “tone down” his “gayness.”
Attorneys for both sides have agreed to mediation in hopes of reaching a settlement that would avoid a lengthy appeals process. But Wildhaber’s attorney, Russ Riggan, and County Executive Sam Page's spokesman, Doug Moore, agreed that the promotion was not part of potential settlement.
Riggan described it as “hopefully a crucial first step for the county in making necessary changes to its culture in arrange to better serve the citizens." He said he hoped mediation would “achieve a fair resolution that allows the
Missouri police officer told to 'tone down your gayness' reaches $10 million settlement, gets promotion
A male lover Missouri police officer who won a "historic" $20 million judgment in a sexual orientation discrimination lawsuit alleging he was told to "tone down your gayness" by a police commission board member has reached a settlement with St. Louis County for half the amount a jury awarded him.
The settlement in the discrimination case filed by Lt. Keith Wildhaber was announced just hours after St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said he will retire.
"I think it's really important for those of us in St. Louis County to realize this is a tough time for the county, but we have to recognize that discrimination isn't right. By settling this lawsuit, the county recognizes that what Lt. Wildhaber went though was not right," St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said at a news conference Monday evening.
Page said the county plans to sell bonds to cover the $10.25 million settlement it hammered out with Wildhaber and his attorneys.
According to the settlement papers filed Tuesday morning in a St. Louis County court, Wildhaber is to receiv
A St. Louis County police sergeant who said the department passed him over for promotions because he is gay was awarded $19 million in a discrimination lawsuit on Friday. Sgt. Keith Wildhaber, who filed the lawsuit against the St. Louis County Police Department in 2017, said he was told to "tone down your gayness" if he wanted to be promoted to lieutenant, CBS affiliate KMOV-TV reports.
Wildhaber's lawsuit details a 2014 incident during which he spoke to a member of the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners about a promotion.
John Saracino, who was on the board at the time, allegedly told Wildhaber that the direct staff had a obstacle with his sexuality. "If you ever want to see a white shirt [i.e. get a promotion], you should tone down your gayness," Saracino said, according to the lawsuit.
The discrimination suit went to trial last week and multiple officers, including Leader John Belmar, took the stand. On Friday, a jury awarded Wildhaber $19 million.
There are now calls for changes in the department's leadership, KMOV-TV reports. "I'm pretty appalled what came to light last week about our St. Louis County Police Department," said local council member Lisa Clanc