PERRY - The Florida Department of Corrections was accused by a former employee of violating the Florida Whistleblower Act in a March 17 Taylor County Circuit Court lawsuit.
Plaintiff Kiara Gray worked as a correctional officer for the DOC for 10 years. During her employment, she says she was treated differently because she was an African American woman.
When a report from an inmate came in that an "Officer Gray" was smuggling contraband into the prison, Gray says that she was the only officer accused, despite there being another Officer Gray who is white.
Gray says she witnessed domestic violence in the DOC, drug and weapon plants on inmates, sexual harassment and more corruption and was retaliated against for reporting wrongfulness at the hands of her coworkers.
The plaintiff was terminated in May 2020 for her repeated push-backs against the DOC's alleged corruption, the suit says.
The defendant is charged with public whistleblower retaliation, race discrimination, gender discrimination and retaliation.
Gray asks the court for a trial by jury. She is represented by Marie A. Mattox PA of Tallahassee.