More than two years ago, police lieutenant Al Days filed a complaint with the state of Wisconsin in which he alleged that he and other minority candidates were overlooked for promotion opportunities.  Recently, Days and his attorneys met with city attorneys before a federal magistrate to begin the process of private mediation.  The issue has not been elevated to a federal lawsuit, but parties on both sides are hopeful that the use of mediation will conclude the dispute more quickly. 

Days filed his complaint against the city with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division in April 2011.  The city immediately denied that any discrimination had come into play, instead arguing that Days was denied a promotion for other legitimate reasons.  At the next stage of the dispute, a civil rights investigator determined that there was no probable cause for the complaint in January 2012.  This decision was appealed by Days and his attorney, although nine months later Days wanted to case dismissed in order to initiate the federal lawsuit.  Earlier this year, Days had received a “right to sue” letter that allowed him to file suit against the city officially in June.