Longmont Employee Sues City To Stop Investigation (CO / free speech)

[struggle4progress]

Apr 22, 2005 8:00 am US/Mountain

LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) A Longmont city employee asked a federal judge Thursday to halt an investigation by city officials over his comments on a radio talk show defending controversial University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill.

Glenn Spagnuolo, who supervises the Youth at Risk programs in Longmont, filed a federal lawsuit against the city and its officials accusing them of violating his right to free speech. The suit says Spagnuolo was threatened with termination for refusing to answer questions about his March 3 comments. <snip>

During the radio show, Spagnuolo was asked about nonviolent vs. violent forms of protest. The suit says Spagnuolo didn't advocate violence or death during the discussion but essentially said when violence occurs against police officers it is frequently a result of oppression. <snip>

In early April, Spagnuolo was asked to attend a meeting with city officials to answer questions about the incident. The officials threatened to fire Spagnuolo after he refused to answer questions without his lawyer present, the suit says. <snip>

http://news4colorado.com/crimeaccidentreport/local_story_112100104.html

[Fridays Child]

1. What a bunch of fascists!

nt

[MissMarple]

2. So, his comments border on "criminal" and he has no right to a lawyer.

This sounds a bit like the Twilight Zone, either that or we've fallen down the rabbit hole.

A bit more from the article:
"A letter from community services director Karen Roney said Spagnuolo had "no right to refuse to answer questions completely and truthfully" and did not have a right to have an attorney present during questioning by human resource representatives.

During one meeting, human resources representative Patti West allegedly told Spagnuolo his comments bordered on "criminal" and that his actions were going to be investigated, the suit says. His computer was later searched and he was escorted out of the building, the suit says."

[struggle4progress]

3. E-mail: Longmont probes words, not deed

By George Merritt and Amy Herdy
Denver Post Staff Writers

Longmont - An e-mail and an audio recording show that city officials may be investigating employee Glenn Spagnuolo for what he said on a radio show rather than his use of a city cellphone possibly on company time, as they claimed. <snip>

"We did indicate there was an investigation started regarding the KHOW radio interview you participated in as well as any potential impact that interview had on the city of Longmont," human resources director Patti West wrote. <snip>

Also included in the filing was a recorded conversation between Spagnuolo and city officials. On the recording, West told Spagnuolo that his comments on KHOW's "Caplis and Silverman" show "may touch on some criminal behavior," though she says several other times that the city is not conducting a criminal investigation. City officials knew Spagnuolo was recording the conversation, he said.

The comment seems to run counter to the city manager's claim at a City Council meeting April 12. <snip>

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2829732,00.html

[struggle4progress]

4. Judge allows Longmont probe

By Amy Herdy
Denver Post Staff Writer

Activist Glenn Spagnuolo is too spunky.

Spagnuolo's steely demeanor regarding an investigation of him by his employer, the city of Longmont, was cited Friday as a final factor in a federal district judge's decision to allow the investigation to continue.

"Finally, plaintiff is not intimidated by the city and therefore his free speech is not chilled," said U.S. District Judge Phillip Figa. "It is unclear whether the average person - or someone perhaps not as brave - would be so uninhibited." <snip>

"It's sad," Spagnuolo said of his reaction to the decision. "I was hoping my government would protect me. Instead, my government told me I have the courage to protect myself." <snip>

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2831733,00.html