Denver Sheriff's Department To Pay $10K Because of Discrimination

The Department of Justice ordered a $10,000 fine against Denver Sheriff's Department for making citizenship a requirement for hiring deputies. The department has been put into boiling water for a supposed case of non-citizen discrimination.

Last year, the Denver Sheriff's Department decided to hire deputies to cut millions of dollars due to overtime. In their job advertisement, however, they have included U.S. citizenship as a primary requirement to carry a badge and a gun. At present, they were able to hire at least 200 deputies.

Instead of being happy with the sheriff's decision to lessen overtime expenses, the Justice Department was upset, and therefore slapped the Sheriff with a $10,000 fine for discriminatory hiring.

In a statement released in the Justice Department's website, they say that the Denver Sheriff's Department clearly violated the anti-discrimination provision set in the Immigration and Nationality Act. The said provision prevents employers from hiring U.S. citizens only unless it was mandated "by law, regulation, executive order or government contract." The Justice Department also said that the Sheriff's department should have hired anyone who possesses the right skills and qualifications.

The Denver Sheriff's Department, on the other hand, was civil in accepting their mistake and said that they are going to abide by the rules. In their statement, they said that they did not commit the violation intentionally and will accept full responsibility for the mistake.

Simon Crittle, the spokesman of Denver Sheriff's Department said, "While we didn't commit this violation intentionally, we accept responsibility and are taking steps to clarify policy and amend language in hiring documents"

The Justice Department, later on, commended Denver Sheriff's Department for being cooperative in removing unnecessary employment barriers. Along with the fine, the department was also instructed to review past applicants who were disqualified because of their lack of citizenship. The Justice Department further asked the Sheriff's Department to consider these applicants in their future opening, particularly if they meet all other criteria.