In 2011, Shaumbe Wright submitted a Public Records Act request to the city of Monterey, seeking his exam results from a sergeant promotions test he’d taken twice. He thought he’d been unfairly passed over for the job.
In a department of 51, Wright is the only black cop. He’s been on the force for 18 years, and never been promoted.
Wright filed a claim last Dec. 24 alleging discrimination and civil rights violations. A month later, he found out his claim had been denied by the city, leaving him a six-month window to file a lawsuit.
“We’re definitely contemplating a lawsuit,” says Wright’s attorney, Bradley Gage. “This is just the beginning.”
Gage is known for cop discrimination cases. In 2009, he won an $18 million settlement on behalf of 16 officers who’d been fired from the South Gate P.D..
“Our client was passed over for a promotion because of his race,” Gage says. “There’s a history of discrimination, and when he complained, he got retaliated against with a series of unjustified internal affairs investigations.”
Monterey Chief Phil Penko declined to comment on the matter because it’s in pending litigation. Wright would speak only through his attorney.
But Penko’s also been confronting issues of more widespread discontent. In February, he received the results of a survey completed by members of the Monterey Police Association, in which 21 of 30 respondents reported they were “very dissatisfied” overall.
“Morale is low, turnover is high, hard work isn’t appreciated and there isn’t even a light at the end of the tunnel,” one member wrote.
Penko responded swiftly, pledging to address the issues and try to improve the department’s culture. City officials met regularly to come up with a strategy. “We owe it to one another to each do our part,” Penko wrote in an email to the department. “I’m in.”
He also emailed Chief Vicki Myers (who oversees the shared police force for Seaside and Pacific Grove), and who was grappling with morale issues of her own. Wright’s claim, as well as the emails, were obtained by the Weekly via a Public Records Act request.
Myers wrote back to Penko: “Hang in there! In the grand scheme of things, this is a blip.”
She also included the contact information for Michael McCrary, a retired chief based in Seal Beach who facilitates team building workshops. Each city has now hired him on for $125 an hour, plus travel expenses. McCrary declined an interview because of his proximity to confidential personnel matters.
McCrary’s just getting started in Monterey, where the beef is mostly with middle management. In Seaside, Myers herself is the source of the complaints.
In July, the Seaside Police Officers Association took a vote of no confidence in their chief, citing concerns with her management style. Frustrated by what they claim is a lack of response, they took their issues public on April 1.
McCrary’s workshops are supposed to address some of the issues. POA members – who decline to be identified claiming they fear retaliation – are calling for Myers to be removed.