Courtesy photo
INGLEWOOD — A former Inglewood police officer has filed a lawsuit against the city alleging discrimination and retaliation.
Marcco Ware’s 19-page lawsuit also alleges failure to prevent retaliation, and discrimination and failure to provide accommodations.
“Defendant has destroyed plaintiff’s career and livelihood in retaliation for his complaints,” the suit alleges.
Ware was hired in 2007 and was shot in the line of duty in March 2022 while serving in the K9 unit, according to the suit.
Three months later, while Ware was still off duty recovering, the dog and the vehicle used to transport the K9 were taken from him and never returned when he resumed work, the suit also states.
Ware’s lawsuit points to him being the only Black officer in the K9 unit and while other members of the four-member unit were on medical leave, their K9 partners and vehicles were not taken from them. Ware also indicates there is no policy on the matter.
“To illustrate, in 2015, my white colleague suffered a work-related injury,” Ware said in the suit. “He kept his K9 while he was off duty. Another colleague of ours in 2019 was injured and remained off duty for several months. Despite his injury status, neither his K9 nor his vehicle was withdrawn.”
“Furthermore, another colleague of Hispanic descent, even while under investigation, did not face any immediate action against his K9 or vehicle. Another colleague, in 2021, sustained an injury on duty and was on leave for an extended period. During this time, he retained his K9. Similarly, in 2023, a recently injured colleague retained his K9 and car during his off-duty period due to injury.
“Without a clear policy in place, there is an undeniable possibility for decisions to be influenced by racial or personal biases,” the suit states.
Ware filed a grievance in August 2023 that was rejected by then acting police chief Cardell Hurt, who said Ware’s K9 was a different dog than the ones cited and was used at large events in his absence.
Ware then took his case to the city’s Human Resources Department, saying, “This discrimination is openly practiced and has gone unchecked for many years,” the suit states.
Ware also complained about the police chief’s personal license plate “GRNMSTA,” which the plaintiff believed implied “grand master,” a term sometimes connected to the Ku Klux Klan, the suit states.
“This license plate is a sad reminder to the members of the department and myself of the inherent biases and disparities still prevalent within our system,” Ware wrote in his grievance, according to the suit.
On the other hand, a lieutenant objected to Ware’s license plate, “FKCKIRK,” and told the plaintiff he could face possible termination if he did not cover the plate or remove the vehicle, according to the suit, which further states that the plate was a tribute to Ware’s mother, a longtime fan of Capt. Kirk and “Star Trek.”
According to internal city documents and personalized vehicle license plate applications submitted to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the license plate was initially obtained by Ware’s brother.
City insiders said that Ware’s vehicle was ultimately towed from city property, at Hurt’s direction, but due to not following its own policy, offered to reimburse Ware for towing fees.
Ware was placed on administrative leave in September 2023 after he responded to a citywide email announcing the retirement of Lt. James Kirk.
“Congratulations Lieutenant James Kirk, it’s been a wonderful journey we have shared over the years. We’re all looking to watching you hang up your uniform and ride off into the sunset! We are all looking to September 28! I would love to share a few amazing memories we shared over the years,” Ware wrote.
Ware then attached three photos to the email, with one depicting Ware kissing Kirk on his cheek.
“This photo was taken at the annual Baker to Vegas run in celebration of a recent drug bust,” said an officer familiar with the photo.
Kirk was the lieutenant in charge of the narcotics unit when one of its detectives was alleged to have been stealing drugs from the city’s property room to sell on the streets.
That detective, John Baca, subsequently pleaded guilty to federal charges in October 2023 and was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison.
Two Internal Affairs investigations were opened against Ware based on his complaints, however, department insiders have stated no such investigation was opened into Baca.
Ware was walked out of the police department less than hour after responding to the email.
Lt. Scott Collins then sent an email out to all police department personnel notifiying them that Ware was “currently on administrative leave until further notice”.
A review of the two internal affairs investigations attached to Ware indicate the impetus of the animus between him and Kirk derived from a 2022 complaint lodged by Ware that Kirk was parking in parking spots reserved for K9 officers.
Kirk responded that an incident occurred between him and Ware during a 2021 football game at SoFi Stadium after Ware was found to be parking in a space reserved for either the mayor or police chief.
Ware has been suspended for more than a year without being told of any allegations against him, and before returning to duty, a city doctor claimed he couldn’t come back due to “poor decision making,” the suit states.
Ware was made to attend fitness for duty psychological exams that resulted in the psychologist determining Ware was not fit to return to the department as an officer and his badge and gun were confiscated despite not having attended a hearing on the charges.
Ware was offered alternative positions as an associate engineer in the city water division, city attorney, and senior plan check engineer, even though he is neither an engineer nor a lawyer, the suit states.
Ware has suffered emotional distress as well as substantial losses in earnings and other benefits since losing his police officer job, the suit states.
Kirk has since returned to the Inglewood Police Department as a special advisor to the police chief.
Ware seeks unspecified damages for lost wages and emotional distress.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
