HONOLULU (KHON2) — State Deputy Sheriff Martin Horton has sued the state for allegedly experiencing discrimination and whistleblower retaliation within the Department of Law Enforcement.
According to the complaint, Horton was hired in June 2023 and experienced racial and sexual harassment from multiple deputies.
“He believes he was manipulated as a pawn in regard to his valid claims of discrimination to be used against another administrator that has a lawsuit against the department,” said Joseph T. Rosenbaum, attorney for Horton.
After reporting the complaint to the department, the suit alleges his supervisor tried to pin Horton’s complaints on a deputy who filed their own civil rights lawsuit against supervisors.
The suit also alleged that Horton was taken to a remote location at Barber’s Point to be interrogated.
He says the supervisor told Horton to go to the media with complaints against the other targeted deputy. Horton says he was told the supervisor would deny it if Horton mentioned he was told to go public.
A spokesperson for the attorney general said the state has not been served.