North Las Vegas City Council OKs $200,000 settlement with former officer

The North Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday approved a $200,000 settlement agreement with a former police officer.

Mark Boykin filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city in 2009, two years after he was let go from the police department. The lawsuit alleged he was terminated during his required probationary period after telling other officers about his field training officer's discriminatory behavior toward blacks. Boykin is black. The lawsuit, originally filed in District Court, was moved to federal court.

Boykin also filed a 2008 complaint against the department with the state's Employee-Management Relations Board, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation.

The board dismissed the claims but found the city had unilaterally changed the terms of Boykin's employment. It ordered the city to reinstate Boykin and pay back wages.

Both Boykin and the city filed petitions for review of the EMRB decision in District Court, where a judge agreed with the EMRB order. The city appealed that decision to the Nevada Supreme Court.

The city decided to settle with Boykin to avoid further legal costs. As part of the settlement, he will resign and agree not to again apply for a job with the city.