The Ann Arbor Police Department is facing two separate lawsuits that claim racial discrimination held back promotions for black and Hispanic sergeants.
City Attorney Stephen Postema in court filings denied the validity of both complaints, arguing both sergeants misrepresented how they were passed over for promotions over the last few years.
Sgt. Michael Dortch, a black officer in the department for 21 years, filed a lawsuit on Nov. 18, 2019 in Washtenaw County Trial Court, accusing the department of revoking a promotion to lieutenant due to discipline not equally applied to white officers.
