LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles Superior Court jury found that the Los Angeles Police Department retaliated against four officers who raised concerns about unsafe working conditions at a firearms training facility. The jury awarded the officers nearly $15 million in damages, according to lead attorney Matthew McNicholas.

The lawsuit stems from safety concerns the officers raised in 2018 at the LAPD Edward M. Davis Training Facility in Granada Hills. The officers reported staffing shortages that left police recruits without adequate firearms training, along with unsafe training protocols and working conditions at the facility.

Claims were filed against the City of Los Angeles and the LAPD in September 2019. Following the officers' protected whistleblower activity, the department initiated internal affairs investigations against the four officers and imposed adverse employment actions, including demotions, removal from specialized assignments, and involuntary transfers.

The department also falsely accused Kristine Salazar of participating in a "blue flu" after she took a sick day due to legitimate illness. Blue flu refers to a large number of police officers taking sick leave as a form of protest.

Craig Burns and Alex Chan were veteran armorers responsible for maintaining, repairing, and issuing firearms and tactical equipment. Mark Hogan and Salazar were senior firearms instructors. Each officer had nearly two decades of experience in their respective roles, and their careers were negatively impacted after they reported the unsafe protocols and staffing shortages.

"These officers bravely spoke out not just for their own rights, but for the safety of the public and their fellow officers. In return, they were subjected to egregious retaliation simply because they reported misconduct and unsafe working conditions," McNicholas said. "This verdict exposes a culture of retaliation designed to silence officers who report misconduct, and it sends a powerful message that those who abuse authority will be held accountable," he said.