Fired Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Police Officer Awarded $638K in Lawsuit

A federal jury in Pine Bluff, Ark., has found race was a motivating factor in the firing of a black Pine Bluff police officer and awarded him nearly $638,000.

Former Sgt. Kelven Hadley sued the department after he was fired in December 2005 by then-interim Police Chief Ricky Whitmore. He was fired after one of his city-issued guns was found during a drug raid and after his brother used his city-issued gasoline card.

The city also argued that Hadley was insubordinate for not filing a missing weapon report on the gun.

Attorney Austin Porter Jr. for Hadley says the former officer has been vindicated and will ask to be reinstated as a sergeant. Attorney Geoff Thompson for the city said in court he will ask that the award be reduced.

Thompson declined comment afterward.

Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,
http://www.arkansasonline.com