Date of Offense
Complaint
Supporting Document(s)
Statement
"Mr. Tibbs" Incident:
On July 28, 2022, Black VA Police Officer Matthew Bennett documented an incident in which Captain Joshua Fister approached him inside the Phoenix VA Police Department and stated, "They call me Mister Bennett," a reference Mr. Bennett understood to be directed toward the character Virgil Tibbs, portrayed by Sidney Poitier in the films In the Heat of the Night and They Call Me Mister Tibbs!. At the time, Mr. Bennett was serving as a union official and was merely wearing a suit and tie while being professional.
Mr. Bennett reported that he perceived the remark as a racial reference directed at him because of his race and professionalism. The incident was later included among the allegations reviewed during VA Office of Employment Complaint Adjudication (OECA) Case No. 200P-644-2022-147530, which resulted in a Final Agency Decision issued on October 13, 2023. The record reflects that Mr. Fister acknowledged making the "Mr. Tibbs" reference, although he disputed any discriminatory intent.
Under Giglio v. United States, documented conduct, statements, or findings that may reflect bias, prejudice, or discriminatory attitudes can be material to assessing credibility, impartiality, and the reliability of official actions or testimony.
