Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/lapd-commander-secures-5-7-million-verdict-in-gender-discrimination-case/
The Incident That Sparked a Firing (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Los Angeles — A Los Angeles County jury delivered a stinging rebuke to the Los Angeles Police Department on March 18, 2026, awarding former commander Nicole Mehringer $5.7 million in a lawsuit over her firing.[1] The verdict highlighted claims of unequal treatment compared to male colleagues who faced lighter consequences for similar misconduct. Mehringer, once a rising star in the department’s employee relations group, lost her position after an off-duty incident involving alcohol.[1]
The Incident That Sparked a Firing
On April 27, 2018, Glendale police officers responded to an unusual scene: an unmarked LAPD Dodge Charger had rolled into a parked vehicle in the middle of the road. Inside sat Commander Nicole Mehringer in the front passenger seat and her subordinate, Sgt. James Kelly, behind the wheel. Both showed clear signs of intoxication, with officers struggling for about 20 minutes to remove them from the car amid arguments.[1][2]
Mehringer faced a misdemeanor public intoxication charge, which prosecutors later dismissed after she completed a 30-day outpatient alcohol recovery program. Kelly, charged with driving under the influence, pleaded no contest. The episode violated department policy, but Mehringer maintained it did not warrant termination, especially given precedents set by others.[1]
Disciplinary Path and Refusal to Accept Demotion
Department leaders offered Mehringer a demotion from…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-03-19 10:25:00
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