Fired deputies who sued ex-Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker to get $1 million
A federal judge ruled Friday that two former Wake County deputies will receive $500,000 each after former Sheriff Gerald Baker retaliated against the pair for reporting another officer’s alleged homophobic and racist remarks.
Baker, who was sheriff from 2018 to 2022, was sued in federal court by former deputies Steven Williamson and Alvis Speight in 2021.
They accused Baker of firing them after they had reported a lieutenant’s “homophobic and racially discriminatory” remarks about gay people and Muslims during a training session in May 2017, according to the lawsuit. The deputies informed several higher-ups about the remarks, including Donnie Harrison, who was sheriff at the time.
In court documents, Williamson and Speight said Lt. Teddy Patrick “told the deputies present that he ‘didn’t believe in being gay,’ did not like ‘gay people,’ and made statements that were derogatory toward homosexuals.” He then went on to reportedly out a gay deputy who was present.
Patrick also allegedly said he felt uncomfortable being around Muslims on airplanes and said, “If white people keep killing themselves, we Black people will be the majority, instead of the minority,” according to the complaint.
The suit described Baker and Patrick as “close friends and confidants” who traveled together and were in the same Masonic lodge. After Baker won election in 2018, Williamson and Speight were fired, while Patrick was promoted to major, serving as Baker’s second-in-command.
The trial in the case began Monday, with the jury ultimately recommending that Williamson and Speight each receive $500,000 in damages. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Richard E. Myers II affirmed that recommendation Friday.
It is not yet clear if the county or Baker will pay those damages.
In a statement Thursday night, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged “the recent decision regarding a lawsuit involving personnel actions that occurred under a previous Sheriff’s administration.”
“Despite that outcome, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office under the leadership of Sheriff Willie Rowe remains dedicated to moving forward and upholding its commitment to the highest standards of integrity and service to the citizens of Wake County,” the statement released by Capt. D.R. Jones said.
Baker’s lawyers said Friday they could not comment on the case.
2022 lawsuit settled
Two years ago Baker settled another lawsuit out of court with Richard Johnson, a former deputy and chief of operations who had sued his former employer in 2020 for over $1 million, also alleging wrongful termination, The N&O previously reported.
Johnson was discharged from the Sheriff’s Office in 2018, shortly after Baker defeated Harrison. He claimed he lost his job out of retaliation for demoting Patrick, after the allegedly homophobic and racist remarks, The N&O reported.
The suit was settled for $99,999, a third of which went to Johnson’s legal fees.
Baker, who had called the suit a politically motivated act to disparage him, made “no admission of liability,” his then-spokesperson said in a statement.
Virginia Bridges contributed to this story.
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This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 7:34 PM.