'Kindhearted' Cop Who Bought Shoplifter Food Sues NYPD Over Slurs

NEW YORK CITY ? An NYPD cop who made national headlines when he bought a caught shoplifter's food says he faced years of racist harassment and scorn over his good deed, according to a new federal civil complaint.

Lt. Louis Sojo was dubbed "slumlord" and "S--- Trump" by superior Capt. Julio Delgado, who berated him for helping a homeless person caught taking food from a New York City Whole Foods, the lawsuit contends.

"Delgado was incensed and berated and belittled him for the effort," the lawsuit states, "by stating in front of Sojo's subordinates that 'you are not a real cop.'"

NYPD officials didn't return a request for comment.

Yet Sojo's good deed earned him praise from NYPD top brass and news outlets across the country, the lawsuit contends and past reports show.

Sojo and his partner came to the Union Square Whole Foods for a meal in July 2019 just as a homeless person was being accused of stealing food, the New York Post and CNN reported

CNN reports the accused shoplifter ? identified as a woman in reports but as a man in the complaint ? burst into tears and explained they were hungry.

Sojo then reportedly told a Whole Foods security guard, "We'll pay for her food."

This Good Samaritan act? referred to in the lawsuit as a national news "COP WITH A HEART" story ? prompted public plaudits from then-Chief of Department Terence Monahan. The complaint claims this curtailed Delgado's attempts to discipline Sojo.

Delgado repeatedly referred to Sojo ? who is of Puerto Rican descent ? as a "Mexican" and an anti-Hispanic slur, the complaint contends.

The captain also disparaged Sojo for running a landscaping business.

The hostile work environment detailed in the lawsuit largely unfolded in the NYPD's Strategic Response Group.

Delgado was assigned to command Sojo's unit and immediately started subjecting him to discrimination, the lawsuit states.

Sojo complained but was met by retaliation from Delgado, who he accused of taking away his overtime, right to a meal and bathroom breaks, according to the lawsuit.

"This abhorrent behavior and treatment of Sojo by singling him out was glibly referred to in the Division as the 'Sojo Rule,'" the lawsuit states.

Sojo eventually filed an internal employment complaint against Delgado, who had accused Sojo of insubordination and got him assigned to a midnight shift, the lawsuit claims.

The federal complaint, which began as a state civil lawsuit, accuses Delgado and the NYPD of race and color discrimination.

gov.uscourts.nysd.576658.3.0 by Matt Troutman on Scribd