February 11th 2024.
A former police chief from Oakland is taking legal action against the city and its mayor, claiming that he was wrongfully terminated from his position. LeRonne Armstrong has now dragged his former workplace and Mayor Sheng Thao into the lawsuit.
According to Armstrong and his lawyer, he was unlawfully fired from his job in February 2022 after voicing his concerns about the federal government monitoring the police department, as reported by ABC7. His attorney, Billie Wenter, stated that Armstrong was specifically targeted and punished for speaking out against this oversight of their operations.
"Chief Armstrong's termination was illegal," explained Wenter. He also pointed out that the former police chief's First Amendment right to free speech was violated. "He was retaliated against for speaking up," he added.
Wenter also highlighted Armstrong's passion for his job and his love for the community. However, the lawsuit also aims to expose the "improper purpose" behind the federal monitor, which Oakland has been under for the past twenty years. The current monitor, Robert Warshaw, is named in the lawsuit as someone who is trying to profit off the city through his role.
"Our goal, among others, is to shed light on the improper purpose behind the monitor's false criticisms against the Oakland police department," Wenter continued.
Despite this legal action, it seems highly unlikely that Armstrong will be able to return to his former position. Mayor Thao had previously stated that she would not approve his reinstatement, even though he was recommended by the Oakland Police Commission. In October, she explained her decision, stating that her priority is to get the city out of federal oversight, which has been costing them both financially and in terms of resource allocation.
"The next police chief will have to work with the monitor and the federal judge," Mayor Thao stated. "In this case, I do not believe it will be LeRonne Armstrong. I do not have faith that he can lead us through this process."
However, the City Attorney's Office has released a statement in response to the lawsuit, stating that they have not yet been served the complaint.
In related news, a black journalist has accused the Oakland NAACP of betraying the city after they called for "tough-on-crime" tactics. This adds to the ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding the city's police department and its leadership. The former police chief's lawsuit is just one example of the challenges they are facing.
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