DENVER -- Latino officers in the Denver Police Department have filed a class-action employment discrimination complaint against the agency, alleging problems with recruitment, hiring, promotions, discipline and the work environment.

"We have been negotiating in good faith (with the city), but all we're getting is idle talk," Denver Police Latino Organization local chapter President Rufino Trujillo said.

The group also alleges that recruitment and hiring practices are unfair and that the department discriminates against Hispanic officers when it comes to promotions, assignments and discipline. The complaint claims that the department does not post legally required information about how employees can pursue discrimination cases, and those who do file them are retaliated against or ignored.

The local organization and the National Latino Peace Officers Association spoke at a news conference Tuesday to discuss details of the complaint, which was filed on Feb. 23 with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Denver.

"If the chief of police and our elected officials condone discrimination within the police department, what message does this send to our community?" Trujillo asked.

The complaint includes allegations by eight former and current officers. The organization has asked others interested in joining the complaint to come forward by March 15.

Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said that Chief Gerry Whitman had not seen the complaint and could not comment specifically on the case other than to say that he remains committed to diversity issues.

There are 1,493 officers in the Denver Police Department, of which 36 women and 266 men -- about 20 percent -- are Latino. Denver's population is 35 percent Latino, according to 2004 census figures.

"We really need to try to improve, and we're doing the best we can, at the very lowest level of recruiting, getting young Hispanics interested in law enforcement," said police spokeswoman Virginia Quiones, who is not part of the complaint. "I believe that the administration strives to be fair. Life in general is not fair. But if the administration tries to make the working environment as fair as possible, that's all we can ask for.

"Someone much wiser then me once said that when a person is in the position to need help from a police officer, it does not matter how educated the officer is, what the officer's sex or ethnicity is. What is important is that the officer at your door answering your call genuinely cares," Quinones said.

She said there also was a financial incentive for bilingual officers. Depending on the level of proficiency, they can make up to $200 more monthly if they are on call to translate for other officers.

The group plans to proceed with a federal lawsuit, seeking unspecified damages. Trujillo said this is not about money, but about change.

"Every time we bring up the issue of getting more of us on the job, one of the statements that always comes out is that, 'Why do you want to hire unqualified people?' My question is, 'Where are they getting that from?' I have people that are professionals already, that are Latinos trying to get on the job, that are being turned away. Why? I don't know. I think it's very subjective. I think it's wrong. I think it's illegal. I think it's against federal law," said Sgt Lenny Mares with the Denver Police Latino Organization.