Former Darien officer suing department, alleges racial discrimination

A former Darien police officer is suing for racial discrimination that he claims led to his termination.

Korone Robinson filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Darien, the Darien Police Department, the police chief and a former and current officer.

He claims he was wrongfully terminated in 2016 as a result of intentional discrimination against him due to his race and his involvement in an interracial relationship with a fellow officer.

The lawsuit also states that Robinson found a flag with the anarchy symbol and a Nazi swastika flag in the car assigned to him.

He claims that a former officer took the Nazi flag and then displayed it on the wall in the criminal investigations division office and it didn’t come down until that officer left the department.

Then, in October 2015, Robinson started dating a fellow officer and claims after their relationship was disclosed to the police chief, his girlfriend’s hours were changed.

This lawsuit also states that the couple got a written reprimand for traveling in the same vehicle, although, Robinson states, other officers rode in city vehicles together.

Another allegation is that Robinson was demoted without an explanation and he claims he was then told he needs to find another place to work and was fired after issues surrounding a local restaurant that had ties to officers in the lawsuit.

Robinson also claims that he wasn’t permitted to resign and claims the chief allowed several white officers to resign instead of being terminated.

The city’s response to Robinson’s complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was that Robinson was terminated for good cause.

Action News Jax reached out to the city manager and was told he did not want to issue a comment at this time.

Robinson is asking for $5 million in damages.

He is now employed with McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office as a narcotics investigator.

Cox Media Group