Fired police officer sues Spokane

SPOKANE — A Spokane police sergeant who was fired after he was caught driving drunk and leaving the scene of a collision has filed a lawsuit against the city for wrongful termination.

Bob Dunn, the attorney representing fired police Sgt. Brad Thoma, told The Spokesman-Review that the lawsuit is a response to the City Council’s unanimous vote Monday rejecting a negotiated settlement. The deal would have given Thoma a demoted position as a detective, plus $275,000 in back pay and $15,000 for his attorney’s fees.

But when details of the proposed deal came out last week, it drew a big public outcry.

Thoma claims that the city is discriminating against him for being an alcoholic and that he is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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