KC police sergeant claims racial discrimination in lawsuit. Here's what to know

Sgt. Terry Grimmett filed a lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court alleging the Kansas City Police Department subjected him to racial discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment after he raised concerns about unequal policy enforcement.

The lawsuit details a series of escalating disciplinary actions that followed his complaints to human resources.

FULL STORY: Kansas City police sergeant alleges racial discrimination, retaliation in lawsuit

Here are key takeaways:

• The allegation: Grimmett alleges a captain told him a jacket he bought from an approved uniform store was out of policy, but when he later pointed out a white officer wearing the same jacket, the captain said it “looked good.”

• Escalation after complaint: Five days after Grimmett notified human resources, he was selected for a random drug test on his day off — which the complaint says should not include off-duty officers — and was subjected to a work-hours investigation.

• Discipline imposed: An internal affairs investigation led to a recommended demotion, ultimately reduced to a 10-day suspension without pay and a one-year suspension from holding a second job. Grimmett had no prior disciplinary issues and received his first negative performance review after filing his complaint.

• Current assignment: After being transferred to Metro Patrol Division, Grimmett found all sectors already staffed. The lawsuit says he is effectively a supervisor with no one to supervise and has been excluded from group emails sent to other sergeants.

• Prior record: A 2023 press release highlighted Grimmett’s 2021 valor award for rescuing children during a standoff as a SWAT officer. The department has declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.