A former employee of the Stockbridge Police Department has filed a lawsuit alleging racial and gender discrimination, as well as retaliation, following her termination. Keyana Cook, who served as the chief code enforcement supervisor, filed the complaint on December 22, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against the City of Stockbridge and its Chief of Police, Frank Trammer.
The case centers around allegations that Cook faced unlawful employment practices under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to Cook’s complaint, her troubles began in July 2024 when she was interviewed by Chief Trammer regarding morale issues within the department. During this interview, she was questioned about rumors involving discriminatory hiring practices and inappropriate relationships within the department. Shortly after this meeting, Cook was placed on administrative leave and threatened with termination for allegedly “spreading rumors.” Despite filing complaints with both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and her department’s human resources division about these retaliatory actions, Cook’s situation worsened upon her return to work in September 2024. She was demoted with a significant pay cut and ultimately terminated after making additional HR complaints.
Cook’s lawsuit highlights a pattern of discrimination within the Stockbridge Police Department during 2023 and 2024, where approximately ten black female employees were terminated while white employees received more lenient treatment for similar or worse infractions. The complaint accuses Chief Trammer of retaliating against employees who reported discrimination and claims that he used his authority inconsistently to disadvantage black female officers.
In response to these alleged violations, Cook is seeking economic damages including back pay and lost wages, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages against Chief Trammer for willful violations of her rights, as well as attorneys’ fees and litigation costs. The lawsuit demands a jury trial to address these grievances.
Representing Keyana Cook are attorneys Artur Davis from HKM Employment Attorneys LLP in Birmingham, Alabama—who plans to file for admission pro hac vice—and Jerilyn Gardner based in Atlanta, Georgia. The case is being overseen by Judge TWT-JEM under Case ID: 1:25-cv-07343-TWT-JEM.
Source: 125cv07343_Keyana_Cook_v_City_of_Stockbridge_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf