Former North Chicago cop claims Muslim faith led to harassment

A former North Chicago police officer claims he was wrongfully fired last month in an amended federal discrimination complaint also alleging he was harassed and bullied by colleagues because he is Muslim.

However, North Chicago Police Chief Richard Wilson denied the accusations made by ex-cop Ramtin Sabet in the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint.

"North Chicago is a diverse community and the city embraces that diversity," Wilson said. "Officer Sabet was terminated for violations of police department rules and regulations. He has challenged that determination. The city plans to vigorously defend its decision. We will not comment further, pending litigation."

Officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations hosted a news conference Friday announcing the revised EEOC complaint filed on behalf of Sabet against North Chicago police in April 2016. Officials from the organization's Chicago office said the discrimination complaint was amended Thursday to reflect Sabet's firing Feb. 9.

Sabet, an Iranian immigrant who launched his law enforcement career 15 years ago, worked as a North Chicago cop from 2007 until he was terminated last month. It's alleged in the EEOC complaint Sabet's faith led to him being bullied and harassed by fellow North Chicago officers.

According to Sabet, former colleagues told him he held his service weapon "like a terrorist Muslim." In a statement, Sabet said formal internal complaints he filed with North Chicago police superiors went unrecognized.