MILLBRAE — A white police commander has repeatedly harassed an Asian-American sergeant for minor infractions and manufactured complaints against him because of the officer's race, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.

The suit — filed last month by San Francisco-based attorney John Houston Scott on behalf of Sgt. Danny Singson, who has been an officer with the Millbrae police since 1998 — contends that, beginning in 2007, Cmdr. Marc Farber has singled the officer out for criticism, verbal harassment and discipline.

"It has created a hostile work environment in a relatively small department," the suit asserts.

Singson is seeking undisclosed damages for lost earnings and legal fees as well as a court order to stop the alleged harassment.

"We've received the complaint," Millbrae City Attorney Joan Cassman said Tuesday. "We'll have to look at it and give it the serious attention it deserves."

The suit contends that Farber yelled at Singson in February and used profanity in front of a resident during a confrontation at Peter's Cafe in Millbrae. Singson, who was on duty, had met with two other officers at the cafe for breakfast.

Farber, who was off duty and in street clothes, came into the restaurant and yelled at Singson for violating a previous instruction not to have more than three police cars parked in one place at the same time, according to the suit. One of the three officers' cars was parked

Farber and Singson went outside the restaurant and the commander reportedly cursed at Singson. A citizen who reportedly witnessed the confrontation called the Police Department later that day to make sure Singson was all right. Farber denied making the statement, according to the suit.

The suit also says that Farber reported Singson in 2008 to the police chief at the time, Thomas Hitchcock, for driving too fast during a high-speed chase. As a result, Singson was placed on paid administrative leave and became the subject of an internal affairs investigation, according to the suit.

The suit says police officials did this without telling Singson what he had done wrong. According to the suit, Singson went to Hitchcock to discuss the incident and at the end of their meeting the investigation was canceled. Hitchcock ordered Singson back to work the same day, the suit states.

In an interview Tuesday, Scott said Singson "brought this suit to protect his career and the careers of other Asian officers — it's not about money."

Farber and Millbrae police Chief Lee Violett did not return calls Tuesday seeking comment.

Reach Joshua Melvin at 650-348-4335.