LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Officer Retaliation Exposed
Fort Worth, TX: (Apr-08-08) Johnny Cummings, a former police sergeant, brought a discrimination lawsuit against the city, alleging that he was forced to retire because of an injury. The suit was filed seeking back pay, loss of retirement benefits, other damages and fees for Cummings' attorney. It stated that the sergeant had been with the department for 17 years when he suffered a back injury in a motorcycle accident while on duty in 1991. Following that, he was on a light-duty job until 1993.
Cummings claimed that former Chief Thomas Windham encouraged him to take medical retirement. Records stated that Cummings spent the next few years undergoing intensive rehabilitation, after which he passed a physical fitness exam in 1999, but was still considered disabled by Windham. Windham hired Cummings as a part-time coordinator of the Citizens on Patrol program. Cummings said he was retaliated against and was fired from the part-time job when he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Sources stated that Windham died in 2000, and incoming Police Chief Ralph Mendoza took an even stricter line with injured officers. Officers who were injured would have to show that they were making progress or leave the force. As part of a settlement reached in the case, the city agreed to pay $400,000 to Johnny Cummings, resolving the last of several discrimination claims by former officers. [STAR-TELEGRAM: FORT WORTH OFFICIALS AGREE TO SETTLE POLICE OFFICER'S SUIT]
Published on Apr-10-08
Cummings claimed that former Chief Thomas Windham encouraged him to take medical retirement. Records stated that Cummings spent the next few years undergoing intensive rehabilitation, after which he passed a physical fitness exam in 1999, but was still considered disabled by Windham. Windham hired Cummings as a part-time coordinator of the Citizens on Patrol program. Cummings said he was retaliated against and was fired from the part-time job when he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Sources stated that Windham died in 2000, and incoming Police Chief Ralph Mendoza took an even stricter line with injured officers. Officers who were injured would have to show that they were making progress or leave the force. As part of a settlement reached in the case, the city agreed to pay $400,000 to Johnny Cummings, resolving the last of several discrimination claims by former officers. [
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