A Black veteran Los Angeles police sergeant has settled his lawsuit against the city in which he alleged that he was wrongfully denied one of two open SWAT positions despite being the best qualified candidate.
Sgt. Gregory Hoskins was self-represented in his Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit. He alleged he was denied the SWAT position in retaliation for having sued the city for race discrimination over a similar job rejection 12 years earlier.
The City Attorney’s Office filed court papers on March 25 with Judge Michael Small stating that the case was resolved, but no terms were revealed.
According to his second suit, Hoskins has been a sergeant since 2003 and originally sued the city in 2010, alleging he was denied a sergeant position in the SWAT team because of his race. During trial of the first suit, LAPD SWAT Lt. Ruben Lopez and many other SWAT team members testified on behalf of the city, according to the new suit.
Thereafter, Lopez openly stated often that Hoskins could never work in SWAT “after trying to sue me,” or words to that effect, according to the second suit filed in June 2022.
In 2021, Hoskins completed a physical fitness test and an interview vying for one of two open SWAT sergeant positions, the second suit stated.
“Although plaintiff was the most qualified candidate for both positions, Lt. Lopez and/or other department supervisors rejected plaintiff for the positions to retaliate against him for filing his 2010 lawsuit and instead selected less qualified candidates,” the second suit alleged.
Hoskins suffered past and future lost income, including overtime, on-call pay, pension and/or other privileges and benefits and he now has fewer chances for promotions within the LAPD, the second suit stated.