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Ex-Pa. trooper claims he was fired over Ebonics

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A black man fired at the end of his 18-month probationary period as a Pennsylvania state trooper said he was wrongly let go for false claims that he didn't properly write reports, and sometimes used "Ebonics" in doing so.

A state police spokeswoman said the agency doesn't comment on litigation.

The federal lawsuit was filed Tuesday by 29-year-old William Peake, of Sewickley, who graduated from the police academy in May 2009 and soon after was stationed at the Uniontown barracks, which his attorney contends is nearly all white.

Peake was required to sign a termination letter contending he was let go for a "lack of solid job knowledge and basic police skills" and other "officer/public safety concerns" not spelled out in the lawsuit.

Peake contends the reasons for his firing "are not worthy of belief."