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Former parks division director alleges discrimination, retaliation and says he received EEOC right-to-sue letter
Summary
Willie Redden, a former St. Lucie County parks division director, told commissioners during public comment he experienced discrimination, harassment and retaliation after filing an internal complaint about his supervisor and that the EEOC issued a right-to-sue letter on Aug. 8.
Former parks-division director Willie Redden used the meeting's public-comment period to describe what he said was years of discrimination, harassment and retaliation within St. Lucie County government.
Redden told the board that he filed an internal complaint in August 2023 about serious misconduct by a supervisor and that, instead of a fair investigation, he was "targeted, retaliated against. My character was attacked, my authority stripped, and my 25-year career derailed." He said he was called to a meeting with the county administrator and other officials and presented with "an explicit threatening ultimatum to resign immediately and hold harmless and sign a whole harmless agreement or be fired." He said he refused, was placed on administrative leave, reassigned and ultimately fired. Redden said he exhausted internal remedies and then pursued federal redress: "The EEOC reviewed my case and issued me a right to sue letter on August 8 confirming that I have the right to seek justice in federal court. I intend to do so," he said.
Redden said his goal is reform and not revenge: "This abusive treatment of county employees has to stop. I'm asking this board to take a hard [look at] leadership, policies, and culture that allow this to happen to me and colleagues."
Why it matters: Redden's public comment raises personnel and workplace-culture issues and signals possible litigation. Board members and staff did not take formal action during the meeting; county staff reminded Redden to provide documents to the clerk and the recording secretary. The county's personnel matters are governed by internal policy and state law; Redden said his EEOC process is ongoing and that he plans to seek redress in federal court.
Ending: The board did not discuss the matter on the record during the meeting beyond taking the public comment and advising Redden to provide his materials to the clerk. Any formal inquiry or response would likely proceed through county human resources and the county attorney's office or through the federal court process now available to him.
