Colleagues Accused of Racially Harassing California Officer in Lawsuit

A police officer from California has filed a lawsuit against his department, accusing colleagues of subjecting him to racial harassment, pressuring him to meet arrest quotas, and retaliating against him after he reported misconduct. The officer, Andrew Hwang, a Korean American, filed the civil lawsuit against the Glendora Police Department in Los Angeles County, where he has been employed since 2023. As of now, neither the City of Glendora nor the department have issued any public response to the lawsuit.

Racial Harassment Claims

In his lawsuit and public statements, Hwang highlights one of the most significant incidents that allegedly occurred during a department dinner in Rancho Cucamonga. Hwang shared with FOX11 that a lieutenant told him to get back in the kitchen and cook for the group because youre Asian. Hwang later clarified, Im Korean. Im not even Japanese, but they think its funny to lump us together as one.

The lawsuit also includes an account of a message from another officer, which contained a video filled with racial stereotypes, repeating phrases like noodle, noodle, noodle... wok, wok, wok. Hwang, who at the time was the departments only Asian officer, stated that such remarks were indicative of a larger issue of racial harassment within the workplace.

Arrest Quotas and Alleged Retaliation

According to Hwang, officers were routinely pressured to meet high arrest quotas. The lawsuit points to communications from the president of the Glendora Police Officers Association, urging officers to return arrest numbers to approximately 1,700 per year. Other department-wide messages included comments such as the jail sure is empty and those crickets are getting loud. Hwang voiced concerns, stating, If you put the expectation of a quota onto officers, it opens the door to corruption, to unethical stops, unethical arrests.

After reporting the alleged racial harassment, Hwang claims his complaint was leaked within the department, leading to three internal affairs investigations. He was subsequently placed on administrative leave. Hwangs attorney, George Aloupas, argued that these investigations were a form of retaliation, aimed at portraying Hwang as a poor performer to justify his termination.

Hwang remains on administrative leave while his lawsuit against the city and the police department proceeds.

Discrimination Data on Asian Americans

While Hwangs case pertains specifically to the Glendora Police Department, it reflects broader national trends regarding discrimination against Asian Americans. A 2023 national survey by the Pew Research Center found that 58% of Asian adults in the U.S. reported experiencing racial discrimination or unfair treatment due to their ethnicity. Additionally, a 2025 survey conducted by Stop AAPI Hate and the University of Chicagos NORC found that 53% of Asian American and Pacific Islander respondents had experienced at least one act of racial hate in 2024, and 66% of those who faced potential discrimination did not report the incidents. This reluctance to report discrimination is often linked to cultural factors that emphasize maintaining harmony and fears of professional repercussions, including retaliation, as seen in Hwang's case.

Author: Harper Simmons