In a striking legal confrontation, a former law enforcement officer has taken the City of Riviera Beach to court, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation that led to his wrongful termination. The complaint was filed by Jeremy Summers on September 19, 2025, in the Circuit Court of Palm Beach County against the City of Riviera Beach. Summers claims that he faced a hostile work environment and discriminatory practices based on his race, which ultimately culminated in his dismissal.
Jeremy Summers served as a law enforcement officer with the Riviera Beach Police Department for over 18 years before his career came to an abrupt end. According to the complaint, Summers had an exemplary record until Michael Coleman became Chief of Police in May 2023. Within days of Coleman’s appointment, Summers faced suspension for alleged “gossiping,” despite proving his innocence during an internal investigation. This marked the beginning of what Summers describes as a pattern of discriminatory actions against him due to his race—white—and his role as a union representative.
Summers asserts that he was subjected to multiple internal affairs investigations initiated by Coleman, while African American officers accused of more severe infractions received little or no disciplinary action. For instance, Officer Nadine Cherisma allegedly made derogatory remarks about white and Jewish officers but faced no repercussions from Coleman. Similarly, Captain Tanzy Vassell and Sergeant Russell Byrd were involved in serious misconduct yet avoided significant discipline.
The complaint details how Summers’ attempts to address these issues through official channels were ignored. He filed complaints with the City’s Human Resources department on several occasions but received no response or investigation into his allegations of racial discrimination and retaliation. Furthermore, after filing charges with external agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Summers experienced further retaliatory actions from Coleman.
Summers is seeking compensatory damages exceeding $50,000 for emotional distress and lost wages due to wrongful termination. He also requests reinstatement or front pay if reinstatement is not feasible, along with punitive damages and attorney’s fees. The lawsuit highlights systemic issues within the police department’s handling of racial discrimination complaints and seeks injunctive relief to prevent future occurrences.
Representing Jeremy Summers is Charles D. Thomas from Thompson & Thomas PA, while Denise J. Bleau from Taylor English Duma LLP represents the City of Riviera Beach Police Department. The case is presided over by Judge Michael A. Caruso under Case ID 502025CA009598XXXAMB.
Source: 502025CA009598XXXAMB_Jeremy_Summers_v_City_of_Rivera_Complaint._Beach_County_Florida_.pdf
