Garden City ? Two women have filed suit in federal court accusing the city of Garden City and its police department of discrimination.

The suits, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Wichita, requested trial by jury.

Garden City Manager Bob Halloran declined comment.

Isabel Banda, a former patrol officer trainee and a current dispatcher, is suing the city and the department for race and sex discrimination.

Banda, who is Hispanic, claims she was “subject to more rigorous training standards,” and that “taunts and criticism based on her sex, national origin and race” created a hostile work environment.

Kari Stewart-Upchurch, who applied for a position with the department but was rejected, also is suing for sex discrimination.

Upchurch claims in her petition that on Jan. 26, 2001, her application was rejected as a candidate solely based on her sex, despite her experience as a firefighter and emergency medical technician.