Binghamton Cop Claims Racial Bias in Department

A Binghamton Police Officer is claiming he was passed over for promotion due to his race.

Christopher Hamlett has filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights even as the City of Binghamton says it has been conducting an investigation into a complaint internally.  That investigation has not been completed.

The City’s lawyers say they got a copy of the complaint filed with the Division of Human Rights last week.

The 15-year veteran of the police force alleges in the legal action that he was passed over for promotion in favor of less-qualified officers “based solely on his racial status.”

Hamlett, who is African American, also claims in the suit that Police Chief Joseph Zikuski failed to intervene when a supervisor blocked the officer’s promotion to Detective.