Former interim police chief Rod Shoap's
federal lawsuit names the city of Crossville and Jesse Kerley as
defendants in the suit filed last week over employment practices.
The city and Kerley have 21 days to
respond to the suit.
The lawsuit claims Shoap suffered age
discrimination, breach of contract as well as slander and libel.
Rod Shoap
The suit claims that then councilman
Jesse Kerley approached Shoap with a list of improper demands and
illegal demands “from the beginning of (Shoap's) employment.”
Shoap believed that Kerley could affect his transition from interim
chief to permanent police chief. And when Shoap refused to acquiesce
to Kerley's demands, he threatened to email Shoap's supervisor,
interim city manager Steve Hill, district attorney Bryant Dunaway,
various other city council members claiming that Shoap was
“insubordinate, ill equipped for the position and committing
felonies.”
The lawsuit outlines a list of demands
made by Mr. Kerley including investigation of director of schools
Donald Andrews, an action out side of Shoap's jurisdiction. The suit
states that Kerley made numerous demands for action against
councilman Pete Souza alleging assault but “without having
sufficient evidence or probable cause.” Kerley contacted DA
Dunaway on the matter to have Shoap removed and charged with
misconduct.
Jesse Kerley
The suit outlines a number of attempts
by Mr. Kerley to have J. R. Blankenship arrested after he spoke at a
council meeting and was charged with distributing unsigned fliers.
Kerley sought to have Blankenship arrested and jailed several times
including alleging his vehicle was not properly registered or insured
when it was and seeking to have Blankenship's mother arrested for
lying to police.
Shoap reportedly brought these action
to interim manager Steve Hill as they arose, including his reasons
for not complying with Kerley's demands. It is unknown if Hill ever
addressed these issues with Kerley.
Steve Hill
Shoap's lawsuit alleges that he was
originally hired by city manager David Rutherford who had offered
Shoap the full time chief position shortly before Rutherford was
fired by the city council. Shoap believed that the offer of
employment would be honored by interim manager Hill but the hire date
kept being delayed putting Shoap's employment status “in limbo for
approximately six months.”
When Shoap resigned the interim
position, he alleges that numerous defamatory statements were made
about him alleging that Shoap resigned because he found out he was
under investigation. Shoap said that he received a text message from
Kerley stating so. In addition, Kerley repeated the same claim to
local news media. A follow up story included a quote from interim
manager Hill that there was no investigation.
Other claims made by Kerley against
Shoap include allegations he had taken an guitar from police evidence
for his personal use, allegations Shoap had an extramarital affair
and shared that information with local media. The suit outlines
allegations of Kerley's harassment of Shoap including references to
“old men” and derogatory statements concerning his faith.
Shoap states that due to all of the
reasons outlined he was forced to resign his position and even though
he has applied for several positions, he remains unemployed. The
suit also claims protection under the whistle-blower act of Tennessee
relating to Kerley's orders to Shoap to commit alleged illegal acts.
The lawsuit seeks $200,000 in damages,
that the city cease and desist in engaging in or facilitating
discriminatory practices, that the city shall halt its employees from
operating under the color of law and the defendants pay for
attorney's fees and expenses as well as cost and fees in the matter.
City attorney Will Ridley is out of
town at the time of this story but has been requested to comment on
the matter. We also left a message for interim manager Steve Hill.
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