An Asian American police commander who filed a discrimination claim against the city of Seattle has settled for $600,000.
Steve Hirjak sued after being demoted from Assistant Chief to Captain following the infamous “pink umbrella incident” during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest.
The Seattle Times reports that Hirjak and his attorneys will receive the money in installment payments.
The department will promote him back to his position as Assistant Chief in March and then Hirjak will immediately resign as part of the settlement. He will receive $54,000 in back pay and $250,000 in other compensation. His law firm will receive the remainder of the money for legal fees and costs.
KIRO7 reported in 2021 that interim Chief Adrian Diaz blamed Hirjak for the escalation of the protest despite the fact that the Office of Police Accountability found Lt. John Brooks at fault, according to the $6 million lawsuit.
Hirjak accused Diaz of making him a scapegoat and that he demoted him because of his race.
“It’s about trying to establish a level playing field, some fairness, and some equity in the department,” Hirjak said at the time, according to KOMO.
The settlement states that an outside firm found the city did not discriminate or retaliate against Hirjak. Hirjak became Seattle’s first Asian American assistant chief in 2018.
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What was the ‘pink umbrella’ incident? Your article might have mentioned a bit of a recap for readers.
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It later says “KIRO7 reported in 2021 that interim Chief Adrian Diaz blamed Hirjak for the escalation of the protest despite the fact that the Office of Police Accountability found Lt. John Brooks at fault, according to the $6 million lawsuit.”
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