Memphis police director accused of vindictive firing of union president

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/mar/29/memphis-police-director-accused-vindictive-firing-/

* By Amos Maki
* Posted March 29, 2010 at 1:15 p.m.

Two City Council members and members of all the city’s unions blasted Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin this morning, saying the department’s recent decision to fire the officer in charge of the police union was unfair and appeared to be retaliatory.

“J. D. Sewell was fired because he was doing his job representing his members and because he dared to voice his disagreement with some of the policies and practices of (Godwin),” said Ruth Davis, president of AFSCME Local 1733. “Unions are a defense against favoritism, nepotism and overbearing employers, like (Godwin).”

Sewell, a 28-year veteran of the force and president of the Memphis Police Association, was fired by the department last week for allegedly compromising a criminal case by interceding for Sgt. Bettie Carter when he called Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter on her behalf. But Potter said Sewell did not do anything “inappropriate” and that it is not uncommon for police officers and others to ask him to recall a warrant when circumstances support such a recall.

Councilman Myron Lowery said Sewell should not have been fired over “a legitimate phone call to a judge.”

“Termination should not have been a first resort,” he said. “We can’t throw away 28 years like this.”

Sewell is also accused of running interference for Carter with the department's internal affairs office by delaying her arrest. In the summary for Sewell's termination hearing, Deputy Chief Joe Scott wrote "the public trust that law enforcement will treat everyone fairly and equal under the law in this case has been blemished."

FULL story at link.