APPLETON, Wis. (AP) – A former Neenah police officer has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, alleging racial discrimination. In the lawsuit, Renee Porter, the department’s lone black officer, said others who had comparable rule violations weren’t fired.

The Post-Crescent Media reports (http://post.cr/1c5g868 ) Neenah’s police commission determined in June Porter violated policy by maintaining a relationship with a man who police say has a reputation for criminal behavior.

It also ruled she lied during an internal investigation and disobeyed a confidentiality order.

Porter appealed. Winnebago County Judge Karen Seifert upheld the decision.

Porter is asking for $300,000 in compensatory damages as well as punitive damages.

City Attorney Jim Godlewski told The Associated Press Sunday the lawsuit has no merits and the city plans to vigorously fight it.