Opinion ID: 66751
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Corporal Promotions

Text: On January 4, 2007, while this action was pending, Bennett filed a second EEOC charge, which she designated an “amended charge,” that alleged sex and race discrimination and retaliation based on the denial of a promotion to corporal in February 2006 and October 2006. 7 Bennett has worked for CCSD since 1992 and holds the rank of advanced private. In March 2005, Bennett passed the corporal examination, which made her eligible for promotion to corporal. In Bennett’s 2003-2004 annual evaluation, her immediate supervisor, Lieutenant Simms, stated that Bennett “should push toward next position as corporal.” CCSD’s human resources department maintains a list of eligible candidates for promotion. When a vacancy occurs, the Jail Administrator, Assistant Jail Administrator and CCSD’s majors and captains meet to discuss the candidates and review their evaluations, disciplinary actions, attendance, special commendations, time in grade, supervisory ability, professional knowledge and quality of work performance. They make recommendations to the Jail Administrator, who in turn makes a recommendation to the Sheriff. Between October 2005 and September 2006, CCSD filled eight corporal positions. Bennett was eligible and considered for each vacancy, but was not selected. As will be discussed, the first two promotions, Darren Sheppard on October 16, 2005, and James Strickland on February 6, 2006, are time-barred. For the remaining six promotions, according to Captain Gilberg, the Captain of Security at the jail and Bennett’s ultimate supervisor, other candidates were promoted over Bennett for the following reasons. 8 On July 23, 2006, Sammy Caruthers, a black male, was promoted because of his attendance history, lack of disciplinary actions, and selection as officer of the month and officer of the year. On September 17, 2006, five corporal positions were filled. Teffanie Lowe, a black female, was promoted because of her excellent attendance history, lack of disciplinary actions, selection as officer of the month and officer of the year, recommendation to receive a commendation for discovering a loaded weapon on an arrestee and infrequent use of sick leave (no sick hours in 2005 and 16 sick hours in 2006). Brett Parker, a white male, was promoted because of his attendance history, lack of disciplinary actions, his field training officer experience, extensive experience in the sheriff’s department operations, state certification as a trainer in several areas and selection as officer of the month and officer of the year. Tyrone Warren, a black male, was promoted because of his attendance history, lack of disciplinary actions, volunteering whenever the jail was short staffed, self-motivation and selection as officer of the month. Rick Fisher, a black male, was promoted because of his attendance history, lack of disciplinary actions, selection as officer of the month and experience serving as acting corporal. Glenn Moye, a black male, was promoted because of his excellent attendance history, selection as officer of the month, lack of disciplinary actions, proficiency in security practices at the jail and infrequent use 9 of sick leave (24 hours of sick leave in 2004, no sick leave in 2005 and 16 hours of sick leave in 2006). Gilberg stated that Bennett was not promoted to any of these corporal positions because she: (1) had disciplinary actions in her file and suspensions for the Dell computer and Prestonback incidents; (2) had a counseling memorandum for failure to request in advance leave for known doctor’s appointments; (3) had no experience as a field training officer and was never selected for officer of the month or officer of the year; (4) took 76 sick hours in 2004, 196 sick hours in 2005, and 94 in 2006; (5) did not volunteer to take on tasks or motivate others; and (6) had not served as acting corporal when the corporal was out.