SEATTLE - Six current and former employees of the University of Washington's police department have filed a lawsuit saying they faced a hostile work environment, including racial and sexual discrimination.

The group, which includes four police officers, filed the civil rights lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court.

In the lawsuit, the employees described several acts of discrimination by their supervisors and other employees:

- A black voodoo doll with stick pins and a noose around its neck was found in the department of the records coordinator, who is a black woman. In addition, she was demoted and her pay was cut after she accepted the position of records manager.

- A Jewish officer was told he couldn't really be Jewish because he had no number tattooed on his arm. Superimposed swastikas also were posted around his office by other employees in March 2007.

- A lesbian officer was threatened by a male officer while they were together in a patrol car. The male officer threatened to smash her face into the wire cage so hard that it would leave a waffle-like impression on her face.

- Several members of the group who filed the lawsuit said they heard the word "n-----" used often and repeatedly by other UW police officers. Other racial slurs and offensive terms were used as well, they said.

- A 55-year-old male employee with 28 years experience was passed over twice for promotion to a supervisory position. Instead, the department hired or promoted young women with less experience who wore low-cut, revealing clothing. The 55-year-old employee was also told by his supervisor that he should quit the department.

According to the lawsuit, university officials did nothing about the work environment. As a result, some of the employees have left and others have suffered depression, humiliation and emotional problems.

University spokesman Norm Arkans says officials believe the claims have no merit.