$14.6M Verdict Obtained in Retaliation and Discrimination Lawsuit Against City of Los Angeles on Behalf of Four LAPD Officers
— Jury finds LAPD retaliated against two veteran firearms instructors and two armorers after they reported safety violations —
LOS ANGELES (April 23, 2026) – Plaintiff trial law firm McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP obtained a $14.6 million jury verdict on behalf of four Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Police Officers, Craig Burns, Alex Chan, Mark Hogan and Kristine Salazar, who were retaliated against for reporting violations of the law.
“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,” stated lead counsel Matthew McNicholas of McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP. “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.”
Each officer brought nearly two decades of experience and strong reputations in their respective roles: Salazar and Hogan as senior firearms instructors and Burns and Chan as veteran armorers. Beginning in 2018, they raised concerns regarding unsafe conditions and potential legal violations at LAPD’s Davis Training Facility. Among the issues they reported were critical staffing shortages that left police recruits without adequate firearms training, and training protocols presented by a newly assigned supervisor that they believed would result in violations of law.
Those concerns were ignored. Instead, in 2019, following their protected whistleblower activity, the Department initiated Internal Affairs investigations and imposed a series of adverse employment actions against all four officers, including demotions, removals from specialized assignments, and involuntary transfers. In Salazar’s case, the department falsely accused her of participating in a blue flu after she took a sick day due to legitimate illness.
All four plaintiffs filed government claims with the City of Los Angeles and the LAPD in September 2019. Their complaints were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in January 2020.
Case Background
Kristine Salazar joined the LAPD in 2002 and rose to Police Officer III. In 2008, she was assigned as a Firearms Instructor at Davis Training Facility, where she served as a senior instructor for approximately a decade. Beginning in 2018, Salazar repeatedly reported what she reasonably believed to be legal violations, safety issues, and dangerous working conditions, including staffing shortages that left recruits without adequate training.
In March 2019, Salazar called in sick with debilitating menstrual cramps. Rather than treat the absence as a legitimate sick day, the LAPD initiated an Internal Affairs investigation, accusing her of abusing sick leave and conspiring with other instructors in a “blue flu.” Evidence showed the Department knew the legitimate medical basis for her absence. Nevertheless, Salazar was demoted from Police Officer III to Police Officer II, removed from the Firearms Instructor role, and involuntarily transferred to Devonshire Division Patrol. Her complaint alleged retaliation under Labor Code § 1102.5 and discrimination and retaliation under FEHA.
Mark Hogan was a 14-year LAPD veteran who served as a grandfathered senior Firearms Instructor at Davis Training Facility for eleven years. Like his colleagues, Hogan reported safety violations and training deficiencies beginning in 2018 and refused to participate in training protocols he believed violated the law. In retaliation, the Department initiated a false Internal Affairs complaint, downgraded him from Police Officer III to Police Officer II, and transferred him, against his will, to the Elysian Park Training Coordination Unit, effective April 5, 2019.
Craig Burns was a 24-year LAPD veteran who served as a grandfathered Armorer at Davis Training Facility for seventeen years. Burns was responsible for the maintenance, repair, and inventory of all department weapon systems. He joined his colleagues in reporting what he reasonably believed to be legal violations and unsafe conditions beginning in 2018. In retaliation, Burns was subjected to an Internal Affairs investigation, downgraded from Police Officer III to Police Officer II, removed from his Armorer position, and involuntarily transferred to Elysian Park, Training Coordination Unit, effective July 7, 2019.
Alexander Chan was a 23-year LAPD veteran and Senior Lead Armorer at Davis Training Facility, widely regarded throughout the department for his exceptional knowledge of firearms systems. In approximately 2013 he was elevated to Police Officer III+1 in recognition of his expertise. Chan reported the same pattern of safety violations and illegal training practices beginning in 2018. In retaliation, he received an unwarranted negative comment card placed in his permanent personnel file, was removed from his Senior Lead Armorer position, and was involuntarily reassigned to a Firearms Instructor position, effective April 5, 2019.
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McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP
McNicholas & McNicholas is a Los Angeles-based plaintiff-trial law firm representing clients in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, employment law, class actions, sexual abuse, and other consumer-oriented matters such as civil rights, aviation disasters, and product liability.
www.McNicholasLaw.com
