A police officer who resigned from the Bay City Police Department after he had a confrontation with a bar patron maintains that he is entitled to a hearing before the Bay City Commission. The former officer believes that he was a victim of wrongful termination because he was forced to resign before he was given a hearing as required by a law governing the treatment of veterans in government jobs.
The Veterans’ Preference Act, which became state law in 1897, lists the circumstances under which a veteran can be fired from a government job. Although several types of misconduct are listed as acceptable reasons for termination, the act also specifies that the veteran must be granted a hearing before the relevant authority figures of the city or county where he or she is employed. Before becoming a member of the police force, the man served in the military for five years.
The events that led to the resignation of the police officer began when a patron in a local bar photographed his police vehicle parked illegally and posted it on social media. When the officer found out what had happened, he and two other officers allegedly physically removed the patron from the bar, confiscated his cellphone and refused to return the device. After reviewing the matter, the officers who were involved were told that they should resign or face termination. A district court judge was scheduled to hear arguments from both the plaintiff and the city before deciding the case.
Individuals who feel that they have been unfairly fired from their job may benefit from the services of an attorney. All employees are protected from illegal forms of discrimination, even at-will employees. By analyzing the unique circumstances of each client’s case, an attorney may be able to highlight improper employer actions that could lead to client compensation.
Source: MLive, “Former Bay City cop says his veteran’s rights were violated, demands formal hearing”, Cole Waterman, February 07, 2014