AN ORGANIZATION of Latino police officers has won class action status for its claim that the New York City Police Department engages in pervasive discrimination in the handling of disciplinary actions.

Three years after the suit was filed, and one year after negotiations and a possible mediated settlement fell apart, Southern District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan certified the class action on the issue of liability in Latino Officers Association City of New York v. The City of New York, 99 Civ. 9568.