Division Of Human Rights Reconsiders and Finds Probable Cause Against Southampton Police Department

The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington represents Kareem Proctor, an African-American Southampton Village Police Officer, in his claim of unlawful discrimination against the Village of Southampton and the Southampton Village Police Department. An initial Determination and Order decision was held that the investigation did not support that Mr. Proctor was subjected to unequal treatment based on his race, color and for opposing discriminatory treatment. The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington reviewed that determination and respectfully requested that the New York State Division of Human Rights (“the Division”) reconsider their decision dated December 27, 2019.

It was respectfully requested that the Division reconsider the factual allegations and take a closer examination of the facts provided in support of Mr. Proctor’s case. In doing so, it was felt that it would become apparent that Mr. Proctor had thoroughly established sufficient support for the charge of unlawful discriminatory employment practices based on race, color and in opposition to discriminatory and retaliatory treatment in violation of New York Executive Law, Article 15 of the Human Rights Law.

On May 27, 2021, the Division’s General Counsel granted that reconsideration and determined “that the proceedings should be reopened and remanded to the Regional Director for the issuance of a probable cause determination. The General Counsel stated that the issues to be determined following the finding of Probable Cause included “whether [Village of Southampton and Southampton Village Police Department] failed to promote [Mr. Proctor] because of his race, whether the [Village of Southampton and Southampton Village Police Department’s] reasons for the abrupt reassignment of [Mr. Proctor] a day before his automatic promotion were pretextual, and whether similarly situated white officers were promoted to Detective or other higher positions [while Mr. Proctor was not.]

This decision is a major victory for Mr. Proctor and his quest for proper treatment and justice. The Division’s “Reopening” is attached.
Click here to view Division's Reopening.