2 Jewish Pa. police officers sue department over anti-Semitism claims

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two Jewish police officers in Philadelphia have filed a federal lawsuit against the department over claims of a pattern of anti-Semitism by colleagues, including scratching a Nazi “SS” symbol into a locker and drawing a Star of David and the phrase “Jewish Hammer” on a patrol car.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the suit filed Monday by Officer Stacey Gonzalez and Officer Pavel Reznik alleged that “racist” comments and anti-Semitic acts by a supervisor and more than 10 officers in the Ninth District headquarters created an unsafe working environment and violated their civil rights.

They allege co-workers would address the Jewish officers using ethnic slurs, and they endured daily off-color jokes at their expense.

A department spokesman says they can’t comment on pending lawsuits. A spokesman for Mayor Jim Kenney says they are reviewing the suit.

A police union spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.