Ex-Columbia police lab tech suing city over job loss

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A former drug analyst at the Columbia Police Department’s crime lab says she lost her job because of her race.

Brenda Frazier local media outlets Tuesday that police officials told her to resign or face being fired after an audit by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department found inconsistencies in her work and raised concerns about her training and methodology.

Frazier sued the city in November, claiming she lost her job because she is black. The case is pending in federal court, and she is seeking $3 million in damages.

Frazier says she noticed lab equipment had not been calibrated in several years and that she was never given correct training for the job.

City officials deny Frazier was targeted for any reason, or that she was forced to resign.