Justice Dept. looks into racial discrimination at FMPD

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Fort Myers Police Department will be investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice as allegations surface of years of racial discrimination and retaliation.

The News-Press reports the claims were made during several lawsuits and equal opportunity complaints against the department.

Gretchen Eberhardt, crime prevention coordinator at FMPD, told the News-Press the culture at the department is toxic.

But Fort Myers police Chief Dennis Eads is denying any racial discrimination, both within his department and with the community they serve.

“I think officers are encouraged to target criminals in the community. If those criminals happen to be minority, then so be it, but that is absolutely false,” Eads said.

Eads’ answer is a response to accusations made by former police union president Cecil Pendergrass in court proceedings.

Pendergrass said he felt officers were encouraged to target minorities.

“It’s wrong, it’s inappropriate and we actually have policies in place to deal with that,” Eads said.

“There is discrimination… there is a fear (of retaliation) in the department,” Eberhardt told the News-Press. “The attitude there is you have to go along to get along.”

The city of Fort Myers is investigating Eberhardt’s claim.

Eberhardt also told the News-Press she heard officers call the Dunbar community “Dumbar.”

Eads said the first time he heard that term was when he was interviewed by the News-Press.

“There’s a lot in that article, there’s a lot left out,” Eads said.

Eads has been in charge of the department’s internal affairs since 2012 and says he has not had officers come to him complaining of racial discrimination.

Five officers have sued FMPD in the past for civil rights violations, and the city has paid thousands of dollars in settlements.

Once of the lawsuits was settled last year. It was a lawsuit brought on by Detective Audenia Thomas, after she says the Fort Myers Police Department failed to investigate years of her complaints about racial discrimination. Chief Eads agreed her claims should have been investigated.

The city manager is looking for an outside firm to investigate the department as well as the Justice Department.