Richmond police fired an Indigenous officer weeks after he reported racist harassment, federal lawsuit says

Lance Johnson, an Indigenous former Richmond police dispatcher trainee, filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday saying coworkers made racist comments about his heritage and the city fired him weeks after he reported the harassment.

Johnson is a full tribal member of the Walpole Island First Nation Band of Indians. The lawsuit says he joined the Richmond Police Department as a reserve officer around 2023 and was hired as a full-time dispatcher trainee in January.

The complaint says racist comments and conduct were common during his time with the department. Coworkers repeatedly asked Johnson whether he "shoots arrows instead of bullets" and used the term "Indian giver," leading him to explain the term's racist history, the lawsuit says. It also says Native American objects appeared in the department locker room and officers questioned Johnson about their authenticity and value. In one instance, Johnson said he was shown a spear and told coworkers he believed possession of the items could violate federal law.

In May, the lawsuit says, Officer Chris Zuellig approached Johnson in front of other employees and asked, "how is it living in your tee pee?" and "how do you feel knowing we took your land?"

Johnson's training officer, Delaney Frantz, and Officer Matthew Palmer, both union stewards, were present but did not intervene, the complaint says. Johnson later reported the incident to Police Chief Tom Costello and Sgt. Bill Kacanowski, who told him the comments were inappropriate and that those involved would be dealt with swiftly.

The lawsuit says the response stopped there. A department-wide email was sent, and Johnson says he was told the three officers had been spoken to, but the complaint says they received no discipline beyond possibly a verbal warning. Zuellig continued working, the lawsuit says.

After he complained, the lawsuit says, Johnson was told the dispatch center door had to remain closed when he was working, a requirement that did not apply to other dispatchers. Frantz, his training supervisor, also began criticizing his performance for the first time and stopped having friendly conversations with him, limiting their interactions to work-related matters.

Johnson eventually asked to meet with department leadership about what he viewed as retaliation. That meeting took place June 25. The lawsuit says Johnson met with Costello and Kacanowski expecting to discuss the harassment and retaliation. Instead, he was fired as a dispatcher trainee and told only that things were "not working out."

The complaint says Johnson was later replaced by a white employee. It also says the department stopped scheduling him as a reserve officer, leaving him feeling unsafe working alongside officers he says failed to protect him from harassment.

Johnson filed a discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by July 15, accusing the department of racial and national origin discrimination and retaliation. His lawsuit says he intends to add claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act once the EEOC issues him a right-to-sue notice.

The federal lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, brings seven counts against the city under federal civil rights law and Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Johnson is seeking lost wages and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, and other relief. He has requested a jury trial.

Jack W. Schulz of Schulz Law PLC, who represents Johnson, described the firing as retaliation for Johnson's internal complaints over the harassment.

Richmond police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.