LAPD Whistleblower Retaliation Case: Jury Awards $3 Million to Former SWAT Sergeant Over 'Mafia' Culture Claims

Timothy Colomey vs. City of Los Angeles, a municipal entity

Case Background

On January 4, 2021, Plaintiff Timothy Colomey filed an LAPD whistleblower retaliation case in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County (Case number: 21STCV00093). Jon R. Takasugi and Kevin C. Brazile presided over this case. This LAPD Whistleblower Retaliation Case involved claims of retaliation against Colomey for exposing misconduct within the LAPD, including the actions of the “SWAT Mafia.

Cause

Timothy Colomey, a dedicated peace officer employed by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) since 1995, exposed unethical practices within the department’s elite Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). Serving as a Sergeant II + 3 from 2008 until October 2019, Colomey observed a troubling culture of misconduct. A group of officers, self-identified as the “SWAT Mafia,” wielded disproportionate power within the unit. They glamorized the excessive use of lethal force, manipulated promotions to favor their allies, and ostracized officers who prioritized de-escalation or advocated fairness in personnel decisions. In 2019, Colomey courageously reported these systemic issues to Internal Affairs, detailing how the “SWAT Mafia” undermined the department's integrity and violated local, state, and federal laws. His disclosures included instances of unlawful force, violations of departmental policy, and nepotism within the promotion and selection processes. Despite his efforts to seek reform, high-ranking LAPD officials retaliated against him, turning his once-honored career into a hostile work environment and forcing him out of SWAT. This LAPD whistleblower retaliation case highlights a pattern of systemic police corruption and misconduct that Colomey bravely exposed.

Injuries

As a result of the LAPD’s retaliatory actions, Colomey suffered severe emotional and prof