Grimy Times has learned that the Puerto Rico Police Department has been ordered to pay $60,000 in compensation to Yolanda Carrasquillo, a former police officer, after the US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico approved a consent decree between the US Department of Justice and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD).

The decree resolves allegations that the PRPD discriminated against Carrasquillo due to her race, color, and religion, in violation of the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The complaint, filed on July 22, 2013, alleged that Carrasquillo was subjected to a hostile work environment due to the discriminatory actions of a coworker. The coworker allegedly directed racial insults and slurs at Carrasquillo and other employees of African descent, and mocked her Christian faith. According to the complaint, the PRPD failed to take action to stop the harassment or discipline the harasser.

The consent decree requires the PRPD to pay Carrasquillo $60,000 in monetary compensation and grant her 30 days of annual leave. The decree also mandates that the PRPD review its policies against employment discrimination and train its employees in accordance with its existing agreement for systemic reform with the US Department of Justice, signed on July 17, 2013.

“This conciliatory agreement is a step towards realizing the necessary reforms in the Puerto Rico Police Department that will ensure the PRPD implements adequate procedures to protect the rights of its employees,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, who leads the Civil Rights Division. “Through this consent decree, the US Department of Justice continues to protect the rights of all workers to work free from fear of harassment due to their race, color, or religion.”

The Civil Rights Division prioritizes enforcing Title VII continuously. Additional information on the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

The Puerto Rico Police Department, a law enforcement agency in Puerto Rico, was the respondent in this case. The crime was employment discrimination, and the case occurred in Puerto Rico in 2013.

The Puerto Rico Police Department was ordered to pay $60,000 in compensation to Yolanda Carrasquillo and grant her 30 days of annual leave as part of the consent decree. The decree also requires the PRPD to review its policies against employment discrimination and train its employees.

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