KING

SEATTLE - Six current and former employees of the University of Washington's police department say they faced a hostile work environment, including racial and sexual discrimination.

The group, which includes four police officers, filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court last week. They say there was a black voodoo doll with a noose around its neck found in the department of the records coordinator, who is a black woman, and a Jewish officer was told he couldn't really be Jewish because he had no number tattooed on his arm.

According to the lawsuit, university officials did nothing about the work environment. As a result, some of the employees have left and others have suffered depression, humiliation and emotional problems.

University spokesman Norm Arkans says officials believe the claims have no merit.