By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Olympian reports former Tenino Police Chief John Hutchings, who was fired earlier this year, is planning to file a defamation lawsuit against the city for $850,000.
News reporter Andy Hobbs writes the claim is based on comments made by Tenino Mayor Bret Brodersen about Hutchings’ termination in March.
Initially Brodersen said he wanted to keep the change in police chiefs low key, but then because of mounting criticism on social media decided to share the background publicly.
In a lengthy news release at the end of March, Brodersen described a conflict between the number of hours Hutchings reported working compared with the number of hours he was authorized to work, given he was receiving retirement benefits. He also reported Hutchings added a paid reserve police officer, not approved and in violation of city statute that prohibits payment.
Chief John Hutchings was terminated on March 25 after almost two years with the city.
Read about it here
When you have to fire people who steal from you, in this case the Tenino taxpayers, you are likely to get sued.
Would be the same if you had a restaurant manager who was dipping in the till and bringing home expensive bottles of wine each night. Fire them and they will sue you – guaranteed. Don’t fire them and they will continue stealing from you and it will get worse.
But it’s better to get rid of them and deal with the aftermath than to let them blackmail you.
This guy has to pay back pension benefits that he shouldn’t have obtained because he wasn’t qualified if working a full time job. He doesn’t believe he is an embezzler only blaming the fact that his dealings became public.
Police gang members cant get along..
A civil suit is a lengthy, expensive, uphill battle that takes years off your life. Good luck with all that.