A jury awarded three Yellowstone County sheriff's officials a total of $945,000 in damages Friday after finding their commanders discriminated against them then retaliated when they complained.

Deputies Chris Romero and Roge r Bodine and Civi l Transport Officer Dave Valdez filed the federal lawsuit in 2006 against the sheriff's office, Sheriff Jay Bell, the late Sheriff Chuck Maxwell, former Capt.

Richard Brennan and Capt.  Bill Michaelis.

Testimony in the case ended Thursday.

The jury awarded $100,000 to each of the three defendants after finding Bell, Michaelis and Brennan retaliated against them for engaging in protected employment activities.

Each was awarded another $150,000 after the jury found the commanders acted to dissuade the deputies from exercising their free speech rights.

The defendants will split another $145,000 in punitive damages as a result of the violations of free speech rights.

Romero was awarded another $50,000 for damages suffered by the breach of the state Human Rights Act.

The case dates back to 2005, when commanders received a tip that Romero was using illegal drugs.  He was called into an interrogation room and says his armpit was forcibly shaved to use the hair to run a drug test.  The tests were negative.

Romero filed a grievance, alleging he was treated harshly because he is Hispanic.

Romero took his case to the Montana Human Rights Bureau, and Valdez and Bodine provided statements for investigators.

Th e o f f i c e r s c l a ime d Brennan referred to Mexicans with a derogatory term and that he told Valdez and his brother, detention Sgt.  Jason Valdez, to get in the back of a golf cart at an event because "'that is where you people belong.'" In the spring of 2006, commanders questioned the officers who had cooperated wi th Romero.

Deputies Bodine, Jamie Swicker and Jason Valdez said they were pressured by attorney Bill O'Connor to change their previous statements.  Jason Valdez said he did so, and five hours later was told he would be promoted to sergeant.