Miami – A city of Miami police lieutenant has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the city claiming she was harassed by the police chief and demoted from her commander rank over her Caribbean hairstyle.

But the city denies Weslyne Lewis Francois’ allegations and said she’s merely trying to force payment for a position she no longer holds.

According to the lawsuit filed in October and provided by Francois’ attorney Michael Pizzi, she claims Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales demoted her because she refused to change her hairstyle which reflects her Haitian and Bahamian culture.

Pizzi told the South Florida Times that Francois, 40, served in the U.S. military and following an honorable discharge joined the Miami Police Department, climbing up the ranks during a career spanning 18 years.

After she was promoted to police com- mander in 2020, she claimed Morales told her she needed to lose her hairstyle because certain communities in the Miami area would not welcome it, according to the lawsuit.

Francois said she was incessantly harassed by Morales for refusing to change her hairstyle and eventually was demoted to lieutenant in 2022.

Lewis Francois defended her hair-style, telling Morales that it did not interfere with her job, and that telling her to change it violated anti-discrimination laws, according to the lawsuit.

However, she claimed that Morales went on to compare her hairstyle to that of a different Black female police commander, asking why her hair could not be like the other woman’s "short" and "sleek" hairstyle.

Pizzi said his client is seeking a court order to restore her commander rank, back pay since she was demoted and $1 million in damages for suffering public harassment and humiliation at the hands of Morales.

Pizzi said his client’s demotion cost her $30,000 to $50,000 annually.

He said Morales also stripped her of honor guard duties and placed her under the supervision of a Major Umset Ramos who allegedly used the N-word.

The Miami New Times reported that in 2014, Ramos, on a recording, could be heard using the N-word after witnessing a Black man get struck by a truck, which prompted outrage from the Miami Civilian Investigative Panel and calls for his termination.

"She suffered public humiliation on many occasions because of her hairstyle," Pizzi said. "Chief Morales, who’s a Cuban American, made disparaging and racial remarks about her hairstyle and that her appearance is not acceptable in the Coconut Grove district she was serving. Being a proud and distinguished outstanding Black female police officer, she felt insulted that she would be judged by her appearance. She considers that an act of racism."

Pizzi said Francois has sported the same hairstyle since she joined the police department.

He said the Miami Police Department has a history of discrimination and racism and his client’s case is the latest example of the mistreatment of Black police officers.

"In this day and age, comments about a Black female’s hair are turning back the clock 100 years," he said. "To comment on hairstyle of Black female police officer is unacceptable."

Francois said she reported the issue to City Manager Arthur Noriega but he never acted or met with her to discuss the alleged harassment, according to the lawsuit.

"I’ve worked really hard, like many others before me, in order to obtain the position of police executive, and unfortunately… that was taken away from me due to the continued abuse of power and authority by (Morales) and his designee," Francois told the Miami Herald. "It’s become very evident that all staff members are not held to the same standards."

Pizzi said his client’s demotion was in retaliation when she stood up to "Morales’ racist comments."

"After she objected to the racist comments, they placed her under the supervision of a major who had been accused by the civilian investigative panel of using the N-word," Pizzi said. "Then they humiliated her publicly."

In a statement, the city of Miami disputed Francois’ claim of harassment.

"The city looks forward to challenging her false allegations in court," the statement said.