Federal Jury to Hear Discrimination Case

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – The courtroom of Chief Judge Sharion Aycock is where a former Tupelo police officer’s discrimination case is being heard this week.

Letisha Mitchell accused the City of Tupelo of violating her civil rights and disability discrimination.

The case started Monday and is expected to last the rest of the week. A jury of eight is hearing the case – four men and four women.

Mitchell injured her neck and back while working as a bailiff for the Tupelo Municipal Court in 2010. When Mitchell went to escort a prisoner from his cell, she found him attempting suicide by hanging himself from a T-shirt. Mitchell was injured when she tried to free him by cutting him down.

Mitchell claims the city did not do its part in changing her job duties to help her cope with her injuries. She also claims, that after she filed a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the city retaliated against her.

Mitchell held a part-time job as a security officer at a local grocery store and was asked to leave that job during the police department’s investigation into her injuries.