A 27-Year Police Promotion Discrimination Lawsuit Ends in Worcester

The city of Worcester has agreed to settle a decades-old lawsuit brought by two Black police officers over racial discrimination in police promotions, according to court records.

The officers, Andrew Harris and Spencer Tatum, sued the city in 1994, saying white officers were given promotions for positions in the department Harris and Tatum were qualified for. Tatum has retired, and Harris died before the suit was resolved.

Worcester will pay $1.5 million and will follow an affirmative action plan to ensure discrimination in promotions does not occur in the future, according to court records and published reports.