Lieutenant with 25 years with Fresno police files claim for damages and alleges racism
A police lieutenant with 25 years on the job filed a claim for damages from the city alleging institutionalized racism in the Fresno Police Department and retaliation for reporting misconduct.
Lt. Ignacio Ruiz Jr., 46, accuses some of the highest ranking officers of giving white officers special treatment while passing over higher qualified minority officers for promotions in a department he describes as toxic and divisive, according to a claim for damages form submitted to the city. The claim was first reported in a local blog called Fresno Spotlight.
Ruiz says in the claim he endured stress and anxiety and was threatened with losing his job. He also said information connected to an internal investigation of him for damage to his police cruiser, which should have remained confidential, was shared across the department.
The claim said he was the subject of an unfair and tainted investigation for a dent in his patrol car, which he reported. The news of the investigation was spread among officers and included what Ruiz said were untrue rumors the damage was the result of his having an affair with a married Clovis woman, according to the claim.
Ruiz was placed on administrative leave as part of that investigation though he remained employed by the department as of Thursday.
The police department and Chief Paco Balderrama declined to comment through a spokesperson, saying they don’t discuss active or potential litigation.
In his claim, Ruiz says department’s problems date back to former chief and current Mayor Jerry Dyer, who led the department for 18 years before he was forced into retirement by department policy. Dyer declined to comment, his spokesperson said, citing the potential litigation.
The claim cites past lawsuits filed by former police alleging racism by Dyer, including ringtones on his phone that played racially stereotypical and insensitive music based on the race of the city leader who was calling. That 2011 lawsuit was settled out of court.
Ruiz is represented by Fresno attorney Kevin Little, who said the department was retaliating against Ruiz. He filed the claim in July.
“It is troubling that Lt. Ruiz has identified long-standing customs, policies and practices of favoritism and discrimination regarding how the department deals with personnel issues and with the public,” Little said. “It is unfortunate that the department did not conduct a meaningful inquiry into Lt. Ruiz’s complaints and instead has opted to retaliate against him.”
It is routine for an employee who may want to file a lawsuit to first file a claim for damages, which would give the city the opportunity to settle the claim before anything is filed. The city would typically need to reject the claim before a lawsuit would be filed.
Ruiz said the department has not properly maintained its data for stops made by police under Assembly Bill 953 of 2015, the claim says. If audited, the data would show a disproportionate amount of stops for people of color — especially those who are Hispanic or Black, the claim says.
The claim for damages also describes a schism in the Fresno Police Department that breaks down along racial lines between white officers and Hispanic officers, sometimes called “Brown,” “Mexican” or “HPOA,” a reference to the now-defunct Hispanic Police Officers Association.
Ruiz’s claim says he has had conversations with other high-ranking Hispanic officers who shared similar stories of a department that favors less qualified white officers. The claim names several ranked officers.
This story was originally published December 8, 2023 at 11:35 AM.
