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A Spokane police sergeant fired after a drunken hit and run crash filed a $4 million claim against the city of Spokane Wednesday, claiming he was wrongfully fired because he’s an alcoholic.
Bradley N. Thoma, 44, was fired Monday after refusing an offer from Chief Anne Kirkpatrick to accept a layoff and be eligible to be rehired as a detective if he completes a court deferral program for his drunken driving charge.
That offer came after Kirkpatrick ruled that Thoma was unable to work as a police officer under the court program because it requires him to have an ignition interlock device on his car.
But that decision was wrong because it didn’t rightfully considers Thoma’s alcoholism as a disability, said Thoma’s lawyer, Bob Dunn.
“This is about as unfair an employment practice as I’ve seen in a long time,” Dunn said. “The only thing I can think of that’s more unfair is firing someone who has cancer.”
Read the rest of my story: Thoma files $4 million claim against city.
Read the claim here.
Reporter Meghann Cuniff writes about public safety news from the Inland Northwest and beyond.
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cpsind11 on December 23 at 7:32 p.m.
I cannot believe the attorney BOB DUNN thinks alcoholism just below to cancer. Firing an officer of the law (a privledge)because he is an alcoholic, which is something they daily choose to be, is absolutely essential to the safety and security of the citzens he seeks to protect. The individual right to life of those in the community being the essential right an officer protects, employing him puts his right to work ahead of that dominant right. If BOB DUNN successfully gets a single dollar for Thoma, we need to run him out of business by spreading the word that he is an enemy to the community.
rterrylynch on December 24 at 9:19 a.m.
It is just too bad for the policeman he is an alcholic but it is NOT the responsibility of the citizens to put everyone in danger due to the inability of this officer to perform his duties equal to his associates. This is shameful and at some point the lawyers have to be responsible to their community and advise this fellow to get a life, get treatment and straighten up. It is not the responsibility of the community to hold his hand.
Grow up alcoholic, get help, it is out there and it is not in the courts. I’m personally well aware of help due to a family member that had to straighten up which he did. He did not blame the system or community, he asked for help and stepped up. Some cannot tolerate alcohol, grow up and stand up.
eagleproducer on December 24 at 6:01 p.m.
You gotta love the SPD home page, which features a photograph of an “officer” pointing a semi-automatic pistol downrange.
Gone are the days of the friendly neighborhood cops WALKING a beat.
eagleproducer on December 25 at 1:22 p.m.
On another note, this guys got a lot of balls.
biasedopinion on December 27 at 7:08 p.m.
“You gotta love the SPD home page, which features a photograph of an “officer” pointing a semi-automatic pistol downrange. ”
When I looked it was a picture of the honor guard. I refreshed the page and got a different picture. It took 9 refreshes before I got to the picture you spoke about.
Seems as if their images rotate as is indicated by looking at the properties of the photograph (http://www.spokanepolice.org/_images/rotator/rotate4.jpg)
AxE on December 27 at 7:28 p.m.
biasadopinion was waiting for the picture of Otto Zehm being beaten.