St. Louis officer wins discrimination lawsuit

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A federal jury awarded $620,000 to a white St. Louis police sergeant who said he did not get a promotion because of reverse discrimination.

Sgt. David Bonenberger sued in January 2012 after he was not interviewed for the assistant director's position at the city Police Academy. He claimed the academy director told him not to even apply because the position was going to be given to a black woman.

The all-white jury deliberated about four hours Wednesday before returning its verdict.

Bonenberger sued the police department, the Police Board of Commissioners, Mayor Francis Slay and other city officials, who were defended by the Missouri Attorney General's office.

In addition to his role as a sergeant, Bonenberger is president of the St. Louis Police Officers Association.

City police commissioners were meeting Thursday to "discuss the lawsuit and make recommendations regarding the next course of action," the department said in a statement.

Bonenberger said he was relieved and felt vindicated.

"It has been miserable going through this for the last three years, and finally it's come to the end," he said. "The jury has seen that evidence presented clearly indicated that I was discriminated against and they (the police department) conspired to cover it up."

Angela Taylor, a black woman, was selected for the job over Bonenberger and another white candidate. Bonenberger's attorney, Lynette Petruska, said the suit was not directed against Taylor.

"Dave feels bad she was brought into this," Petruska said.