- A lawsuit alleges that
Wyoming 's first Black sheriff fired a white deputy after years of racism. - Former Corporal Jamin Johnson alleges his then-supervisor forced him out of his position and used racial slurs.
A new federal lawsuit alleges that Wyoming's first Black sheriff fired a white deputy after years of "racism, bigotry, and discrimination in the workplace" that "almost defies belief."
Former
These disciplinary actions were an inaccurate "sham," "borne out of racism" and designed to force Johnson's resignation, according to the lawsuit, which was obtained by Insider.
The lawsuit states that although Johnson had received positive performance evaluations throughout his career and had never been written up for any violation of policy before working with Handley, the disciplinary actions were used to "persuade the ACSO to give Mr. Johnson an ultimatum: he could demote himself to a position still under Mr. Handley's direct supervision and control or leave the ACSO."
"I felt completely defeated, like I didn't have a voice and that the leadership structure that was in place couldn't, wouldn't hear me," Johnson told Insider.
While the lawsuit does not detail what these disciplinary actions looked like as personnel files are confidential, Omeed Azmoudeh, one of Johnson's lawyers, told Insider that they included "fabricating" situations that called into question Johnson's "loyalty" to the ACSO and "trustworthiness."
Both the lawsuit and Azmoudeh state that Johnson opted to leave the sheriff's office because "it was the only tenable option."
Years of racism had taken a toll on his mental health, per Azmoudeh, and given that Handley had control over Johnson's schedule and assignments, performance reviews, and could make recommendations about demotions, promotions, and transfers, Johnson did not foresee the situation getting better.
"After years of awfulness and being beaten down, Jamin left," Azmoudeh said. "He didn't know he had recourse for these kind of claims, that the courts have to listen because federal law dictates that people should not be suffering this discrimination."
"Now we get to take his case to the courts," he added.
Johnson said that deciding to leave the ACSO was a "very tough decision for a number of reasons."
Not only was he born in the area and raising his own family there, but he was a second generation law enforcement officer.
"After years of degradation, I was made to feel that I didn't have any value to offer any other employers," Johnson said.
The lawsuit alleges Handley repeatedly used racial slurs
Among the racist incidents outlined in the lawsuit was one in which Handley allegedly called Johnson the n-word while Johnson was walking outside of his home with his wife and children.
Handley apologized for "not having not realized that Mr. Johnson's family was present," after the incident "as if vile racism was otherwise acceptable," according to the lawsuit.
Per the lawsuit, Handley was liberal in his use of racial slurs in describing Johnson and others. On another occasion, Handley reportedly told Johnson, "you're not one of them, but some Black people are just n-----." He also compared Black women to dogs, the suit alleges.
Johnson told Insider that it was "hard to imagine" that if he was "enduring those kinds of attitudes and behaviors as a colleague that members of the public would be treated better."
Handley did not respond to Insider's requests for comment.
Johnson decided to sue Handley after the ACSO conducted an internal investigation into Handley in 2021, under the direction of Wyoming's first Black sheriff, Sheriff Aaron Appelhans.
Appelhans was appointed last February, two years after former Corporal Derek Colling killed an unarmed man with mental illness at a traffic stop.
The investigation, which resulted in Handley's termination, "substantiated Handley's racism and bigotry" and found that Handley was "emboldened" to behave the way he did because he had received preferential treatment, the lawsuit alleges.
"We don't condone that kind of behavior," Appelhans told Insider. "We never have and we never will as long as I'm sheriff."
"We look to provide a safe working environment for everyone," he added.
Johnson hopes his story will spur others to come forward about racist work environments
Johnson is suing for an unspecified amount of economic damages, including back pay, lost employment opportunities, and lawyer's fees, and compensatory damages, including "psychological, emotional, and mental anguish."
Since leaving the ACSO in 2017, Johnson has fully retired from law enforcement and now works in public health.
"It's something that will always be with me. It has changed how I think and how I see the world," Johnson said. "It's hard for me to even put in to words how it's affected me, but I think it's really important for people to share their stories, because another layer of suffering and trauma happens when you can't even speak about what you've experienced."