Community Corner
Discrimination Lawsuit Involving Mokena Police Chief Settled For $200K
A former Joliet police officer who sued the city for racial discrimination by the department and chief Brian Benton will receive a lump sum.
MOKENA, IL — A former Joliet police officer who sued the City of Joliet and its police department claiming he was racially discriminated against, including by current Mokena Police Chief Brian Benton, who was Joliet's chief at the time, has been awarded a $200,000 settlement.
Patch reported on Tuesday that retired officer Lionel Allen’s racial discrimination lawsuit was settled and that the city agrees to pay Allen and his attorneys a lump sum as well as provide the former officer with a job reference for any job the former officer applies for in the future.
In 2018, while still on the Joliet Police Department, Allen filed his federal lawsuit against the Joliet Police Department, Benton, and Lt. Marc Reid, who oversaw internal affairs at the time.
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On June 16, 2016, Benton "recommended that Allen be terminated" as "further race discrimination," the lawsuit stated.
Joliet's police chief told Allen he would not be fired if he chose to withdraw his EEOC complaint, "agree not to file any future charges, signed a 'last chance agreement' and took a 15-day suspension," according to the lawsuit.
Find out what's happening in Mokenafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Read the full Patch report here.
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