A former Suffolk County police officer won his lawsuit against the department Thursday when a federal jury decided he was passed over for promotion because of discrimination.

Matthew Sforza claimed he was repeatedly passed over for a promotion to sergeant because of a back injury he sustained in the line of duty years before. Sforza even said Police Commissioner Richard Dormer told him he didn't get promoted because of his disability. Dormer testified in court that Sforza wasn't promoted was because of poor job performance.

The jury awarded Sforza $450,000 in damages. The police department says it maintains the position Sforza was not discriminated against.