Can a police officer be fired for investigating potential criminal activity? Can a government employee be a whistleblower simply by doing his or her job? These issues come up in this case from Michigan:
A police chief, who claimed he was fired because he investigated potential wrongdoing by town officials, has settled his whistleblower retaliation suit. Police Chief Richard Leman of Shelby Township, Michigan claimed in the suit that his contract was not renewed, because he had initiated an investigation against two town officials, township Supervisor Richard Stathakis and then-Treasurer Paul Viar. Terms of the settlement were confidential.
Source: Advisor & Source
There is an absolutely critical point here that must be kept in mind: whether under Kentucky law the police chief's action would fall under the protection of the Kentucky Whistleblower Act. This issue arose in whistleblower case where Robert Abell represented a Lexington police lieutenant that was discussed in these articles in the Lexington Herald-Leader: Police Lieutenant Sues Lexington and Police File Remains Confidential. As with any case, the specific fact context must be considered in conjunction with the applicable law.
Lexington, Kentucky whistleblower and employment lawyer Robert Abell represents individuals and employees who have suffered retaliation because they acted to see that government did the right thing: contact him at 859-254-7076.
