NYPD Officer Claims He Was Harassed For His Race, Painted Toenails
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A mixed-race NYPD officer with painted toenails accused fellow officers in a department scuba unit of discriminating against him by calling him a transsexual and a descendant of slaves.
The accusations were contained in a civil suit announced on Thursday by attorneys for Officer Oscar Smith.
The suit alleged supervisors and officers abused Smith by expressing open disbelief that a black man could pass a swim test. It also said the NYPD unfairly denied him promotions and overtime based on his race.
Court papers described Smith as a mixed race African-American and an avid diver and surfer. They said painting toenails is common for surfers.
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the city Law Department.
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