Smyrna officer denied promotion after suing department over racial profiling allegation
The Smyrna police officer accused of racially profiling a boy last year has been denied a promotion, despite being cleared by the department of profiling.
In December 2018, Officer James Hicks was accused by Shantay Peairs of stopping her teenage son because he was black. Although Hicks was immediately cleared of any wrongdoing after he stopped the 13-year-old, the department later disciplined him. In May, Hicks filed a federal lawsuit against the city for wrongful discipline.
In an amended complaint, Hicks says he was denied a promotion he was qualified for, something he views as retaliation for the lawsuit. Instead, officers with less experience were promoted to the positions.
When asked why Hicks wasn't promoted, city attorney Jeff Peach didn't provide an answer, instead saying that this case should be heard in court.
Read more: https://www.dnj.com/story/news/crime/2019/12/06/smyrna-police-officer-denied-promotion-after-suing-department/2586762001/
(Murfreesboro Daily News Journal)