CAIRO OFFICER ALLEGES RACIAL AND SEX DISCRIMINATION FROM POLICE FORCE

CAIRO, Ill. -- A discrimination complaint against the Cairo city government has been filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights by a police officer.

The officer, Connie Martin, alleges in her complaint that after she was injured on the job, she was not given the same pay compensation as her peers.

The only reasons for the discrepancy is that she is female and black, according to the complaint, filed June 16.

Martin's problems started after she suffered a severe back injury while she was working, said a letter to the human rights department from her attorney, McArthur Allen.

After three surgeries and months of workman's compensation, Martin's doctor gave her approval to return to work under limited conditions.

When she spoke to Police Chief James Wright, she was told she didn't have a job with the department, and he could not provide more details, Allen's letter said.

Martin then went to Mayor James Wilson, who told her she was a liability to the police, the letter said.

Because other officers who had been disabled on the job were able to receive holiday pay in one lump sum at the end of the year and she wasn't, Martin concluded this was because of her race and sex.

In response to the charges, Wright said Martin can come back to work at any time. However, the police department has no positions requiring "light duty" only, he said.

Martin's doctor has restricted her to lifting no more than 10 pounds because of her back injury, she said.