A current and former police officer have filed a pair of complaints against the University of Florida after saying they experienced discrimination while serving on the force.
The complaints, which were sent to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Florida Commission on Human Relations, were filed by UF Police Department long-term employees Andrielle Boone and Brian Ausgood.
Ausgood began working for the department in October 2010 until his termination in December 2021. Boone began her employment in August 2014 and is still currently employed with UFPD.
Both say they were racially discriminated against, while Boone said she also was discriminated against based on her gender. The complainants are being represented by attorney Marie Mattox, who says officers don't typically report discrimination in the work force because it can be damaging to an officer's career and reputation.
"Police officers try to stick together," she said. "You know that you're going to have a hard time getting a job somewhere else. If you leave and you've accused one police department of racism, it's very difficult to get another job, especially if they start targeting you after you have complained of race discrimination."
UF spokeswoman Hessy Fernandez in an emailed statement said the university denies the allegations brought forward.
"The University is aware of complaints that have been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and denies their allegations," she wrote in...
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