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Poor baby must be under a lot of pressure these days. Now now stop that crying!
http://www.pnj.com/article/20120627/NEWS01/120627015/1006/news01
Lawsuit: Sheriff demoted deputy for "political reasons"
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy and the former head of Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers has filed suit against Sheriff David Morgan, accusing him of unfairly demoting him for political reasons.
The suit was filed Tuesday in the Northern District of Florida. Jeffrey Van Camp Sr., who has been a deputy since 1989, says in the suit that he was demoted after he took a charitable donation from sheriff’s candidate John Powell at a golf tournament in August to benefit Crime Stoppers.
The golf tournament was sponsored by Crime Stoppers and had one hole sponsored by Powell. Sometime during the event, Powell’s people approached Van Camp with the money, the suit says.
Van Camp, the suit says, “called the Florida Attorney General to confirm that donations from candidates could be accepted.”
“He was told that a 501(c) charitable organization could not turn down the donation,” court papers say.
After Morgan found out, however, court papers says Morgan “charged Van Camp with various violations … including not keeping his chain of command informed, failure to properly complete and maintain Crime Stopper records and reports, failure to maintain job knowledge and skills and conduct unbecoming.”
Van Camp, who unsuccessfully ran for sheriff in Santa Rosa County in 2008, has denied all of the allegations.
Still, Van Camp was demoted to patrol officer and “demoted him to patrol officer in the least desirable area of Pensacola,” the suit says He was also suspended for 30 hours after going in front of a disciplinary review board.
The suit takes the case a step further, saying Sheriff’s Capt. Dale Tharp and Cmdr. Ricky Shelby told Van Camp that “his demotion was strictly for political reasons.”
“Morgan knew or should have known that the conduct described above and the retaliation against Van Camp for his perceived association with Powell, his political enemy, was a violation of Van Camp’s constitutional rights …” court papers say.
Van Camp is seeking an unnamed amount of money in damages and court costs.
Van Camp’s attorneys, R. John Westberry and Clayton Conners, refused comment.
Morgan has not yet filed a response.
Sheriff’s attorney Gerry Champagne immediately referred a reporter to the office’s spokesman.
Office spokesman Mike Ward said in an email that “the Sheriff's Office does not comment on pending litigation.”
http://www.pnj.com/article/20120627/NEWS01/120627015/1006/news01
Lawsuit: Sheriff demoted deputy for "political reasons"
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy and the former head of Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers has filed suit against Sheriff David Morgan, accusing him of unfairly demoting him for political reasons.
The suit was filed Tuesday in the Northern District of Florida. Jeffrey Van Camp Sr., who has been a deputy since 1989, says in the suit that he was demoted after he took a charitable donation from sheriff’s candidate John Powell at a golf tournament in August to benefit Crime Stoppers.
The golf tournament was sponsored by Crime Stoppers and had one hole sponsored by Powell. Sometime during the event, Powell’s people approached Van Camp with the money, the suit says.
Van Camp, the suit says, “called the Florida Attorney General to confirm that donations from candidates could be accepted.”
“He was told that a 501(c) charitable organization could not turn down the donation,” court papers say.
After Morgan found out, however, court papers says Morgan “charged Van Camp with various violations … including not keeping his chain of command informed, failure to properly complete and maintain Crime Stopper records and reports, failure to maintain job knowledge and skills and conduct unbecoming.”
Van Camp, who unsuccessfully ran for sheriff in Santa Rosa County in 2008, has denied all of the allegations.
Still, Van Camp was demoted to patrol officer and “demoted him to patrol officer in the least desirable area of Pensacola,” the suit says He was also suspended for 30 hours after going in front of a disciplinary review board.
The suit takes the case a step further, saying Sheriff’s Capt. Dale Tharp and Cmdr. Ricky Shelby told Van Camp that “his demotion was strictly for political reasons.”
“Morgan knew or should have known that the conduct described above and the retaliation against Van Camp for his perceived association with Powell, his political enemy, was a violation of Van Camp’s constitutional rights …” court papers say.
Van Camp is seeking an unnamed amount of money in damages and court costs.
Van Camp’s attorneys, R. John Westberry and Clayton Conners, refused comment.
Morgan has not yet filed a response.
Sheriff’s attorney Gerry Champagne immediately referred a reporter to the office’s spokesman.
Office spokesman Mike Ward said in an email that “the Sheriff's Office does not comment on pending litigation.”
