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| NEWS > 02 June 2007 |
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Investigations clear BPD of mi
Nine Billings police officers have been cleared after a spate of internal affairs investigations, city officials announced this morning.
Police Chief Rich St. John and City Administrator Tina Volek outlined the investigations during a 10 a.m. press conference at City Hall. The investigations were prompted by testimony during the civil trial in July of a lawsuit by Officer Steve Feuerstein.
A jury awarded Feuerstein $1.3 million in damages after finding that the city violated Feuerstein's state and federal free-speech rights and state employment laws. Lawyers for the city ... Read more
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Sun-Sentinel.com - Fort Lauder
02 June 2007
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To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Hollywood Police Department, F
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Hollywood close to settling wi
Hollywood · The city could soon settle its 11-year legal battle with former Police Chief Richard Witt, who claims he was fired in 1996 because he was trying to clean up corruption in the department.
City commissioners next week are scheduled to vote on paying Witt $300,000 for "damages caused by his termination."
The chief had twice convinced juries that he was wronged, but both verdicts were struck down on appeal becaue of judicial mistakes. His latest trial was scheduled to start later this summer.
In his first trial in 2000, jurors took less than an hour to award him $206,000, plus attorney fees. In the 2005 retrial, a jury awarded him $201,000. Costs for his attorney, Pamela Terranova, pushed the total cost to the city to around $500,000.
At one point, Witt had offered to settle the case for only $50,000.
City documents made public on Friday say both sides agreed to the $300,000 settlement, but the commission still must sign off on it. Interim City Attorney Alan Fallick declined to comment on why he is recommending the settlement.
Terranova could not be reached for comment despite two messages left at her law office. Witt, who now lives in North Florida, also could not be reached. Both have repeatedly said the case was not about money, but rather vindication for Witt.
The former chief's accusations returned to the spotlight earlier this year after FBI agents posed as mobsters looking for help from Hollywood officers. Four veteran officers who were charged with corruption have pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and are awaiting sentencing. A lieutenant has been charged with lying to FBI agents about his knowledge of an internal leak that brought the federal corruption investigation to a halt.
One of the officers who pleaded guilty, Sgt. Jeffry Courtney, was singled out by Witt in a 1995 internal investigation of the department's hiring practices. Witt's investigation found dozens of officers were hired despite serious problems in their backgrounds, including previous arrests.
Witt later submitted his findings to the State Attorney's Office and then shifted his focus to hiring practices citywide. He was fired a month later, in March 1996.
City Commissioner Cathy Anderson said she is in favor in settling the case.
"It has cost us already too much money and embarrassment," she said.
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