I've lost faith in the legal system... at least the CIVIL end.

[popo8]

As many of you know, Im a Police Officer. I started at my current PD in August of 2001.

I worked for a Chief that was , to say the least ....SIMPLE. But I was doing what I wanted.

In 2003 our Chief, who was a clear racist (never gave me any issues) was accused by a twp employee of referring to her kids as "nigglets," because she was white and her husband was black.

POLICE CHIEF CONTESTS SUSPENSION:
http://articles.philly.com/2003-12-0...per-pottsgrove

All of the Police Officers were interviewed and promised that our interviews would remain confidential, unless some type of court litigation was required. With that being said, I did what I thought was the RIGHT THING... BE HONEST.

I mean after all, I was new to a career where my work is based on my honestly, my integrity, my ability to do right, and steer away from wrong.
So when I was asked if the Chief used those terms, My answer was YES... when I was asked what other racial terms I heard him say, and use, I answered.
After all, annonimity was the name of the game , right???

Well, my statement along with the statement of two other officers ended up getting the Chief suspended for 5 days..... YUP... a 5 day suspension.

And After that, he returns to the position of Chief, with full knowledge of what we said, and who said it. Needless to say, three of us had our necks on the chopping block.

Well, I started getting written up for everythying, as well as the other officers. I got threatened to not testify at the civil service hearing which would be used to determine his fate.

Enough was enough.,., I contacted a friend of mine who was an attorney, and the three of us filed suit against the Township based on WHISTLE BLOWERS act, and HARASSMENT.

Mean while, a few days after my patrol car was t-boned and I nearly was squished between it and a speeding van while directing traffic, I was thrown over 30 feet when I tried to get my cruiser between myself and the van. (thats another story for another day).

I was riding as the passenger with my ex girlfriend, when we observed a road rage incident which occured just outside my twp. A vehicle side swiped another vehicle and ran it off the road. We followed the vehicle which was not displaying a registration plate, and I called 911 (the same as we would advise anyone reporting the same thing) with our 4ways on we awaited Police response. Ended up following the car right to a driveway. WHile on the phone with dispatch, I got out, and identified myself as a Police Officer to the driver. Badge wallet in hand, I stated, "Im a Police Officer , uniformed Officers were on their way, the driver nodded, then threw the car in reverse and turned the wheel hard right, which caused the front of the car to come towards me. I jumped out of the way and ended up directly in front of his car. Still on the recorded line with dispatch, and still with wallet in hand, I told him to stop...and I repeated POLICE, IM A COP, POLICE. he decided to charge me with his vehicle, catching me at the front of the knees, putting me right on the hood. He hit the brakes, and put me on my ass. Well, I stood up, drew my gun and pointed it at him, ordering him to stop, Yelling Police, again as I moved from the front of the car. HE threw it in reverse and took off down the stree back wards where marked cars stopped him. HE was arrested.

An internal investigation was opened against me without my knowing. THe board of commisioners who control hiring and firing requested to have me interviewed to hear my side. My "CHIEF" at the time failed to request or order me in front of them and continued to request my termination..... I ended up being called in front of them and slapped with a 2 day suspension (which I contested and was later reversed),

Suddenly a fabricated story was added to the current story which was twisted all to hell, and posted front cover on the news paper;.... COP FOCUS OF CRIMINAL PROBES.... I remember I took up more of the front cover than a teacher having sex with students.

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/200...bes#full_story

The article was written by Jason McKee, nephew of the Chief.....
Only parts of the article that are true are what I wrote above. In fact the first part , they forgot that I volunteered to go with two other officers to use our vacation time to go to ground zero and assist with the efforts after the terrorist attacks.
I WAS NOT IN TOWN!!!!!

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/200...bes#full_story


Anyways.... the time for the hearing came for the CHief... myself, the other two officers were there, and my attorney who was representing the 3 of us (even though we were wittnesses). We never had the hearing, we were suddenly notified the Chief, resigned.



SUSPENDED CHIEF RETIRES:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=6057,4361844


Keep in mind this entire process took a little over a year... and the lawsuit was filed and in full effect, going through depositions and all that other crap..... It lasted like that until 2006. One of the three of us left the PD to be hired with the State Police , so he withdrew from the suit.. and the other withdrew after fearing that he would lose his job and he had two kids to support... so now it was just me....

AUgust 2006 we went to trial.... for a week and a half we had a bench trial (means in front of a judge only, no jury).... I was the only perosn at this point... we went though the trial and explained how i was targeted for doing the right thing against the chief, how I was harassed, and diciplined unfairly... even being written up once for allowing a prisioner to kick out a window on my cruiser after being arrested. Something I could not control. Even explained how the twp informed the Chief of what we said to which they admited on the stand, but had since fired that twp manager...

We put on our case, and it seemed to be CLEAR the judge saw it.... The Defense even made me a settlement offer a week after the hearing while we waited for a verdict of 120k if I would resign from the dept. I refused it. I had my attorney counter with , legal fees paid a public appology and I would resign on my own. THEY REFUSED to appologize... so I said fuck it, lets wait for the judge.

I never lied... I never did anything wrong, I did what I thought was best, and morally correct.

HERE IS THE KICKER.... NOT ONLY DID THE JUDGE NOT MAKE A DECISION UNTIL THIS WEEK, (2006-2013 we waited) .... TODAY THE JUDGE FOUND ON BEHALF OF THE TWP FOR NO WRONG DOING.


Today, that twp was just empowered to continue fucking me as they have been doing since that day..... But in the end, Im still there... Im getting better.. and I will be back. Im very upset about this... not because I wanted a dime... but because the law failed me, and my lifes work is based on THE LAW.


SORRY SO LONG... thats it.

[JCzNova]

Damn brother. I'm glad to see you are still able to stay so positive on life after all that BS. I will have to go back and read all the links now.

[popo8]

Damn brother. I'm glad to see you are still able to stay so positive on life after all that BS. I will have to go back and read all the links now.

Enjoy.. I may be able to find more....

[MeanTA]

Man that's messed up! It just amazes me how shady the legal system can be.

But i applaud you for sticking it out. And standing up for what was right.

[popo8]

Man that's messed up! It just amazes me how shady the legal system can be.

But i applaud you for sticking it out. And standing up for what was right.

Ive tried... Ive lived by it... but seriously.... whats the point anymore...

Its like if your honest, you get fucked.. if your shady, you get further and further ahead! And you get to keep on fucking people over....

[MeanTA]

Ive tried... Ive lived by it... but seriously.... whats the point anymore...

Its like if your honest, you get fucked.. if your shady, you get further and further ahead! And you get to keep on fucking people over....

Its like the saying goes "You can't recognize the good, Without knowing the bad"

No matter how bad and pointless something may seem. You should still fight for what you know is right. I can only imagine how frustrating this is for you. Just got to remember you are right. And the witch hunt that they gave to you. Is the result of them knowing you are right.

Granted that judge should be slapped around a little

[popo8]

Its like the saying goes "You can't recognize the good, Without knowing the bad"

No matter how bad and pointless something may seem. You should still fight for what you know is right. I can only imagine how frustrating this is for you. Just got to remember you are right. And the witch hunt that they gave to you. Is the result of them knowing you are right.

Granted that judge should be slapped around a little

LOL.. thanks....

I think Im still just in shock that after all these years of waiting for a judgement (WHO WAITS FROM 2006-2013 FOR A JUDGEMENT) I really expected to be triumphant. Again, not for money, but for the principle.

Your right, and I know Ill come around, but I am soooo kicked right now.

[chile]

Wow I'm speechless.

[meissen]

That's nuts!

[popo8]

Its so disapointing. Thought id be able to sleep it off.

I couldnt.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com