Fla. campus police under investigation

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A Florida university campus police department is being investigated after allegations of racial profiling and discrimination, authorities say.

University of Central Florida philosophy professor Jennifer Lisa Vest claims that during a traffic stop, four white campus police officers discriminated against her based on her race, gender, sexuality and disability, WKMG-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported Tuesday.

The officers then illegally searched her car, Vest alleges, found prescription drugs and called her abusive names like "drug user, crackhead and liar."

Vest, who is gay, says she complained to university officials, the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union.

"The allegations are extremely believable because these complaints for students are just pervasive," Cecelia Rives, a member of the student government, said. "Calling her names is merely unprofessional, but that search strikes me as illegal."

Vest, who took a medical leave of absence, said she wants her record cleared, an apology, and for the officers to receive sensitivity training.

The university is doing an external review of the campus police department with the help of Orlando police, WKMG-TV said.

"The university considers this an urgent matter and will use whatever resources are needed to proceed with these reviews," the school said in a statement.