posted November 9, 2008
Former Chattanooga Police Officer Lawrence Goodine has filed suit in Chancery Court seeking to be reinstated to his job and receive back pay.
The suit, filed by attorney Jerry Tidwell, asks the judge to find that the actions of the City Council on his appeal were in violation of the city charter and state law.
The City Council on Aug. 25 declined to allow Mr. Goodine to return as a Chattanooga police officer.
He had been fired after he was charged with 20 felonies. However, he was found innocent in Criminal Court.
Seven City Council members heard the case and were unanimous in their decision. The council, which began hearing the case on a Monday morning and went straight through until 1 a.m. the next day, did agree that allegations of theft should be stricken from his record.
Goodine personally appealed to the council members for reinstatement while denying he stole any money during traffic stops.
He had been arrested for numerous counts of oppression, theft and extortion. The jury ruled in his favor despite hearing repeated testimony alleging that he stole money from people he stopped for alleged traffic violations.
Despite that acquittal, city attorneys contended he should not be rehired on grounds that he failed to perform his job properly and routinely violated defendants’ constitutional rights.
At the close of the city's case, Police Chief Freeman Cooper said he still feels Mr. Goodine is a thief who could not be retrained as a police officer.
Among the city witnesses were people who claimed Mr. Goodine took money from them after traffic stops.
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