Everett police union challenges Troy Meade firing

The union that represents Everett police officers has taken a formal step to help fired officer Troy Meade try to get back his job.

Friday marked the day Meade officially lost his job for the June 2009 fatal shooting of

a drunken driver. Before the day was over, the Everett Police Officers Association filed a grievance, claiming Meade was disciplined without just cause and in violation of the union’s contract with the city of Everett.

Blogger Leland Dart has posted a copy of the single-page grievance notice here.

Meade was fired for repeatedly shooting Niles Meservey as the intoxicated man sat behind the wheel of his car. In one of his final acts in his long career as Everett police chief, Jim Scharf this week ruled Meade’s use of force wasn’t justified and his decision to shoot “unfathomable.” Meade went on trial for murder last year because detectives and prosecutors who investigated the killing reached a similar conclusion. Meade was acquitted of criminal charges, but the jury also found the officer had not acted in self defense, as a matter of civil law.

It isn’t a surprise that Meade is getting support from the union he paid dues to since 1998. As we reported Thursday, the police officers’ association as early as November 2009 voted to begin building a defense fund to pay for any grievance brought on Meade’s behalf.

Depending on where this goes next, Meade case may wind up costing people in Everett more money as the city prepares to defend the firing before a state arbitrator. The city already has acknowledged spending more than $1.2 million on attorneys and a settlement reached with the family of the man Meade killed. Meanwhile, Meade was paid nearly $184,000 while he waited on administrative leave to learn what would happen with his police career.