A York Regional Police officer at the centre of a racially-charged dispute has sued his employer for $15-million.

Dameian Muirhead, and his wife Chantall, also a longtime York Police constable, accuse the force of causing them “humiliation and embarrassment accompanied by feelings of insecurity and anxiety,” by the force’s handling of a public complaint against Muirhead.

They are seeking $10-million in general, aggravated and special damages and $5-million in punitive and exemplary damages.

“The Plaintiffs have suffered from shattered faith, disbelief, disgust, anger and disappointment in their employer for which they have been dedicated and loyal to for approximately 20 years combined,” their statement of claim reads.

“These feelings have manifested themselves into an inability to sleep, constant headaches, frequent illness, psychological anguish and various physical ailments for which the Plaintiffs have had to seek treatment from medical doctors and psychologist to cope with the damages,” the statement continues.