Racism suit filed against constable
Racism suit filed against constable
By Neil Strassman
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Tarrant County Constable Jack Allen has been accused in a federal lawsuit by a former employee of frequently using racial slurs and targeting minorities in enforcing the law.
The suit, filed by Dionicia Gaucin, an 11-year county employee who worked one year as a clerk in Allen's office, accuses the constable of using derogatory terms for Hispanics and African-Americans and of "telling others that the bullets in his gun were meant to shoot browns and blacks."
Allen acknowledged using the word "wetback" and apologized to Gaucin for the comment, according to the county's written response to the suit.
Allen, a constable since 1990 in northwest Tarrant County, declined to comment on the suit. Assistant District Attorney Ward White III, who is representing Allen and the county, denied the other allegations.
Gaucin and her attorney met with county officials Tuesday at the direction of U.S. District Judge John McBryde in an effort to settle the complaint, but no agreement was reached.
"My client wants to see something done so that people can work in the precinct without being subjected to racist comments." said Robert Lee, Gaucin's attorney. "This should be addressed right now."
>Allen has had his share of troubles recently. In March, the county was forced to dismiss six months' worth of tickets that he had written and refund fines because his peace officer's license had lapsed in September 2001.
In January 2001, Allen shot out a tire on a Springtown man's vehicle while attempting to arrest him for dumping tires illegally.
According to the lawsuit, Gaucin worked as a clerk for Allen from November 2000 to September 2001. She now works as a clerk for a constable in another precinct.
The lawsuit, filed Aug. 13, alleges that Allen initially did not want to hire Gaucin because she is Hispanic. The suit says Allen used derogatory terms such as "wetback" in referring to her as a potential employee, and derided Hispanics as "all lazy and not trustworthy."
The suit accuses Allen of treating Hispanics and African-Americans "with total disdain and contempt," and says he disproportionately ticketed, arrested and mistreated Hispanics and African-Americans.
The suit alleges that Gaucin was given a heavy workload with no assistance or support.
She is seeking monetary damages for emotional distress, the lawsuit says.
The county argued in its written response to the suit that Gaucin is not entitled to damages for termination because she has continuously been employed by the county.
Gaucin initially complained to Assistant County Administrator Jay Singleton, but she was told that she had missed a seven-day deadline for lodging a complaint. That deadline has since been extended to 30 days.
She then filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but the agency declined to rule in her favor.
McBryde is expected to rule in about 10 days on whether there is enough evidence to proceed with the suit, White said.
Neil Strassman, (817) 390-7679 strass@star-telegram.com
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By Neil Strassman
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Tarrant County Constable Jack Allen has been accused in a federal lawsuit by a former employee of frequently using racial slurs and targeting minorities in enforcing the law.
The suit, filed by Dionicia Gaucin, an 11-year county employee who worked one year as a clerk in Allen's office, accuses the constable of using derogatory terms for Hispanics and African-Americans and of "telling others that the bullets in his gun were meant to shoot browns and blacks."
Allen acknowledged using the word "wetback" and apologized to Gaucin for the comment, according to the county's written response to the suit.
Allen, a constable since 1990 in northwest Tarrant County, declined to comment on the suit. Assistant District Attorney Ward White III, who is representing Allen and the county, denied the other allegations.
Gaucin and her attorney met with county officials Tuesday at the direction of U.S. District Judge John McBryde in an effort to settle the complaint, but no agreement was reached.
"My client wants to see something done so that people can work in the precinct without being subjected to racist comments." said Robert Lee, Gaucin's attorney. "This should be addressed right now."
>Allen has had his share of troubles recently. In March, the county was forced to dismiss six months' worth of tickets that he had written and refund fines because his peace officer's license had lapsed in September 2001.
In January 2001, Allen shot out a tire on a Springtown man's vehicle while attempting to arrest him for dumping tires illegally.
According to the lawsuit, Gaucin worked as a clerk for Allen from November 2000 to September 2001. She now works as a clerk for a constable in another precinct.
The lawsuit, filed Aug. 13, alleges that Allen initially did not want to hire Gaucin because she is Hispanic. The suit says Allen used derogatory terms such as "wetback" in referring to her as a potential employee, and derided Hispanics as "all lazy and not trustworthy."
The suit accuses Allen of treating Hispanics and African-Americans "with total disdain and contempt," and says he disproportionately ticketed, arrested and mistreated Hispanics and African-Americans.
The suit alleges that Gaucin was given a heavy workload with no assistance or support.
She is seeking monetary damages for emotional distress, the lawsuit says.
The county argued in its written response to the suit that Gaucin is not entitled to damages for termination because she has continuously been employed by the county.
Gaucin initially complained to Assistant County Administrator Jay Singleton, but she was told that she had missed a seven-day deadline for lodging a complaint. That deadline has since been extended to 30 days.
She then filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but the agency declined to rule in her favor.
McBryde is expected to rule in about 10 days on whether there is enough evidence to proceed with the suit, White said.
Neil Strassman, (817) 390-7679 strass@star-telegram.com
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