Former La Crosse officer taking dept. to federal court for harassment

Officer’s attorney says city showed a lack of interest in settling dispute

Harassment by the La Crosse police dept. toward a black officer could be headed to federal court.

Former officer Anthony Clark and his attorney, James Birnbaum, have sought permission to take Clark’s complaints from the Wisconsin court system into U-S District Court. Birnbaum says the lack of interest by the City of La Crosse in settling the dispute is disappointing. 

Birnbaum argues that the state courts could have ruled to give Clark his police job back, along with back pay. But a favorable federal ruling might also include monetary damages.