Texas City claims former cop has failed to submit production in discrimination case

GALVESTON - The city of Texas City entered a motion to compel responses to its first set of interrogatories and first request for production from one of its former police officers.

According to a 37-page document submitted Feb. 27 before the Galveston County 405th District Court, plaintiff Ismael Alcocer failed to meet the defendant's deadline of Oct. 20, 2011, for his responses.

The documentation was mailed to the plaintiff on Sept. 19, 2011, the motion states.

Alcocer filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city on March 11, 2011, alleging he was fired because of his race.

His original petition asserts he was removed from the force because of his marriage to former Texas City Fire Department Capt. Kelly Rotrock, an African American woman.

The plaintiff, who is Hispanic, was employed by the city as an officer from July 2002 to September 2009.

According to the original complaint, the race-based harassment began in March 2008 when he and Rotrock made their relationship known. He stated his colleagues and superiors berated his partner.

Alcocer alleges his co-workers accused him of illegal dumping and pornography possession in an effort to get him fired, according to the suit.

He was eventually dismissed from the force on Sept. 11, 2009.

The city denied the complainant's allegations in an original answer filed April 11, 2011.

Abrams Scott & Bickley LLP is representing the defendant.

Case No. 11-cv-453