Former Cole County deputy’s discrimination case dismissed

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Cole County Sheriff’s deputy’s discrimination lawsuit against the county has been dismissed without prejudice.

Cole County filed a motion to dismiss on June 9, and it was granted Thursday.

David Barrett filed a lawsuit in June 2022, alleging he was fired due to racial discrimination. According to previous reporting, Barrett believed he was fired in 2021 after coworkers learned he was biracial. He started as a deputy in 2006.

Barrett was allegedly told he was terminated due to “incompetence,” “dissatisfaction” that had been building for years, “loss of trust,” and finally “abuse of authority" but he was never disciplined for any of these prior to termination, according to previous reporting.