Embattled police detective sues city for not paying overtime; Claims intimidation by superiors

A New Orleans Police Department detective has filed suit against the city and top-ranking police officials for allegedly not paying him overtime.

Chad Perez filed suit in Orleans Parish Civil District Court against the City of New Orleans on Dec. 14. Perez claims the city and police department forced him to work 25.26 hours of overtime without pay over five days dating back to December of last year. Perez claims police lieutenant Christopher Cambiotti and sergeant Troy Williams intentionally withheld the payments. Cambiotti is alleged to have used threats, coercion and intimidation against Perez in the matter.

Perez claims that after he took his concern to the Public Integrity Bureau within the NOPD that Cambiotti and Williams mocked him in front of peers, filed frivolous intradepartmental complaints against him and discriminated against him by forcing a work schedule that did not allow him to earn overtime or paid details.

The plaintiff is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for loss of enjoyment of life, violation of his federal and state legal rights and mental pain, anguish and suffering.

Perez was fired in 2008 after he was found to have used excessive force when he used a Taser on a man he was subduing. The termination was later overturned and Perez was reinstated to the force.

The suit was filed on behalf of Perez by Raymond C. Burkhart, III of Covington-based Burkhart and Associates.

The case has been assigned to Division M Judge Paulette R. Irons.

Case number 2011-12877