Fingerpointing Wednesday

We're not quite sure what to make of this...

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Cops accuse chief of racial discrimination

Six members of the Richmond Police Department's command staff have told the city they plan to sue over alleged racial discrimination by Chief Chris Magnus.

The officers, all black men, claimed in state documents filed last month that Magnus harassed, denied promotion and retaliated against them over their "race, association with other minorities, and opposing racism and race-based conduct in the department and by my chief, deputy chief and others."

Richmond officials received legal notice Monday that the officers -- three captains and three lieutenants -- have vacated their complaints with the state Department of Fair Employment & Housing to pursue lawsuits.

The complainants represent about one-third of the department's senior command staff: Capts. Cleveland Brown, Alec Griffin and Eugene McBride, and Lts. Michael Booker, Shawn Pickett and Arnold Threets.

Magnus, who came to Richmond from the Fargo, N.D., Police Department in January, enjoyed a long honeymoon with several community constituencies because of his perceived commitment to reforming a department widely regarded as dysfunctional, fractured and ineffective in local law enforcement circles.

-- Karl Fischer

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As important members of the media, the Tazer has had the honor of speaking with Chief Magnus in person. In our encounters, we found him skittish and perhaps OVERsensitive regarding matters such as racism, so we have our doubts about these complaints. Remember: the seriousness of a charge has no bearing on the veracity of the accusation.

Magnus has had a great deal on his plate with much more yet to digest, and he seems to be the most effective police chief Richmond has seen in a long while. The changes he's instituted/planned to institute probably aren't sitting well with everyone. We're not saying that's any kind of motivation...just mentioning possibilities...