Muslim Deputy Sues Police Dept. For Discrimination

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ORLANDO (CBSMiami/AP) — A discrimination lawsuit has been filed against the Orange County Sheriff's Office after a former Muslim deputy of Arab descent was let go from the job.

Waleed Albakri filed the civil rights lawsuit in federal court on Thursday, claiming religious and ethnic discrimination and harassment.

The former undercover vice detective says he was fired from the police department last year after complaining about discrimination and harassment. He had worked at the sheriff's office for six years.

He says other deputies called him a "terrorist" and made anti-Arab slurs, including his supervisor who didn't stop the harassment and laughed at it.

He also says he was denied a promotion he deserved and that deputies retaliated against him when he made a compliant to internal affairs.

Sheriff's office spokeswoman Jane Watrel says the agency doesn't comment on pending litigation.

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