Retired CSPD officer speaks about sex-discrimination lawsuit

Last week Colorado Springs reached a settlement with current and retired police officers in a sex- discrimination lawsuit. $2.5 million will be paid out to the plaintiffs. KRDO NewsChannel 13’s Cinthia Maldonado tells us what the plaintiffs are saying about the case.

In a press conference Thursday morning, we heard from one of the female officers as well as the defense team. The settlement ended after two years, and one‐and-a-half years of litigation. Now, back in July a federal district judge agreed the physical abilities test, known as PAT was unfair to women and that it shouldn’t determine if an officer could continue on with their job. Nearly 40%of the department’s women failed the test the first time, causing them to be stripped of their duties and placed on other assignments.

Retired Lieutenant Santos told KRDO she hopes their bravery will stop demoralizing and discouraging women to in the police force. “I think what’s important to us is that this makes an impact to law enforcement in general for women. I think it makes an impacts diversity, and inclusion in law enforcement and I think that’s something really critical when you’re talking about representing a community.” Attorney Donna Dell O’lio says law enforcement agencies shouldn’t’t take this settlement should lightly, “This is a national precedent and there isn’t any police chief in the country that’s going to ignore the fact that $2.5 million was paid out to settle this case.”

Even though Colorado Springs paid the settlement it’s still not admitting any fault.
This lawsuit is by far the largest in the city’s history.