An Alexandria Police Department officer has been awarded full compensatory damages in his racial discrimination lawsuit against the city.
Delton Goodrum and his family erupted in tears of joy after the verdict was read. After a four-day-long trial before U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, the jury deliberated for less than three hours to find that then-Police Chief Don Hayes, who is Black, racially discriminated against Goodrum, who is also Black, in his years-long bid to be promoted to Captain. The jury found that Goodrum’s rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 were violated and ordered that he be compensated $7.25 million, although awards in discrimination lawsuits under Title VII are capped at $300,000.
Outside the courthouse, Goodrum said that he was overwhelmed with emotions, but was feeling closure.
“My story was heard,” Goodrum said. “The stories of so many others at that Department of the city were heard. The city has been put on notice. We will no longer suffer in silence. They say they value us, then start valuing your employees.”
Hayes, who testified for approximately five hours, was not in the courtroom when the verdict was read. The City Attorney’s Office was represented by attorneys Jim Cales and Meghan Roberts.
City Attorney Cheran Ivery called the verdict “disappointing and shocking.”
“Today’s verdict is disappointing and shocking, particularly in light of the $300,000 statutory cap which the judge has enforced,” Ivery said. “It in no way reflects the City’s commitment to diversity in hiring and dedication to equality in the workplace. The City is considering all available options with post-trial motions up to and including an appeal.”
Josh Erlich and Katherine Herrmann are Goodrum’s attorney and said that the jury determined Goodrum was not given a fair chance because of his race.
“I’m sure the defense is going to file motions, because they don’t think that this is legitimate, and that’s on them, that that’s fair for them to think,” Erlich said “We obviously disagree. The judge still needs to figure out how much back pay and front pay Lieutenant Goodrum is owed, and then needs to figure out how much Lieutenant Goodrum is out in terms of attorneys fees, costs and any other expenses he accrued in the litigation. There may or may not be appeals, but we are not concerned about appeals.”
Lieutenant’s meeting with Acting Chief of Police
In June 2021, former Police Chief Michael L. Brown resigned, and his assistant Police Chief Don Hayes was named the acting chief of police. City Manager Jim Parajon promoted Hayes to chief in June 2022 — after he’d been acting chief for a little more than a year.
When Hayes started as acting chief, he had to fill two captain vacancies. He first promoted Courtney Ballantine, a white acting-captain who’d been serving in the position for a year. Filling the other vacant captain’s position is what created the controversy.
In late June 2021, Acting Chief Hayes held a meeting with the department’s lieutenants. In that meeting, Hayes talked about APD needing a more diverse workforce, and then “shocked” and “frustrated” the officers by explicitly telling the group that he intended to promote Goodrum to the rank of captain “because he was Black,” according to testimony from meeting participants.
“That statement did not go over well with the white lieutenants, and that was the catalyst for his behavior towards me and him trying to walk back his statement,” Goodrum told ALXnow.
During Hayes’s tenure as chief, and even today, APD has had only white captains.
Hayes could not remember on the stand when the meeting occurred, but that he was sure it took place while Brown was still chief. He recalled stating that he would promote Goodrum to captain, but denied that he said he would do so because he was Black. He also said that after the meeting rumors began to surface that he was a racist.
“I never stated that the lieutenant should be promoted because he’s Black,” Hayes said.
Captain Courtney Ballantine, who was the first APD lieutenant promoted under Hayes, said that the then-chief did make the comment, and that it “shocked and frustrated” him. Ballantine was at the top of the promotional list, followed by a now-retired lieutenant and then Goodrum.
“I guess hearing it frustrated me because I wasn’t going to be promoted,” Ballantine testified. “I worked hard to be promotable and I guess that frustrated me because this is something I can’t change (the color of his own skin).”
Lieutenant Scott Patterson (ret.) was also at the meeting, and said that it was Hayes who brought up the subject of Goodrum’s race.
“(Hayes) said that he thought he should promote Delton because he’s Black,” Patterson testified. “We couldn’t believe he said what he said.”
Patterson continued, “The following day, (Hayes) came to my office and said he wanted to clarify or explain his comments regarding Delton. I said he didn’t need to explain anything to me. He’s the chief of police… He said he wanted to promote Delton because Delton was one of the top three candidates.”
Goodrum said that Hayes’ statement in the meeting shocked him.
“I felt like he (Hayes) doomed me, because the other lieutenants were offended because all they heard was ‘Chief Hayes is only promoting Black people or minorities,’” Goodrum said.
Months later, Goodrum, who was leading the department’s training and recruitment efforts, was transferred to another post midway through a three-year detail. Hayes testified that it was due to performance issues, and he was sent to traffic and safety, and replaced with a white male lieutenant. Hayes then tried to get the white lieutenant promoted to acting captain — a decision that was later reversed by the city manager’s office.
Hayes testified that Goodrum was transferred due to poor performance.
“I just wanted to make sure we were doing what we were supposed to be doing in terms of recruitment,” Hayes said.
Hayes was officially free to promote his officers when he was named chief in April 2022. He promoted Ballantine, who was at the top of the promotion list, and another white male at the bottom of the list as captains.
“He actually married my wife and I,” Goodrum said. “That’s the relationship we had. If I had to describe him, I’d say he’s your stereotypical wolf in sheep’s clothing. He presents well, but I looked at him as a mentor.”
Hayes retired last year.
Lauren Goodrum testified that her husband lost weight, couldn’t sleep at night and was depressed.
“I’ve gone through this case from the beginning with him,” she said. “He has worked so hard in his career, and to be diminished in a single comment and decision by the chief was heartbreaking. He also bears a lot of weight at that department, as a senior-ranking officer, people look up to him, and if he’s defeated, they feel defeated. He really did carry more weight than just himself in this fight. I’m so proud of him for doing it. I’m so relieved that he can start healing from having his story finally heard and finding some justice.”
