Former Police Officer Files Lawsuit over Overtime Pay

Forks, WAA lawsuit has been filed against the city of Forks by a former police officer alleging that he was not paid for overtime that he worked. The amount of overtime pay that he is seeking is unspecified.

From September 1998 until June 2007, police officer Jim Dixon worked for the Forks Police Department as a K-9 officer handler, according to the lawsuit that was filed in Clallam County Superior Court. His claim alleges that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act was violated as well as three Washington State laws.

According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, Dixon was allowed to have a half hour of overtime pay each day, which he alleges he was never paid for, according to the lawsuit. However, the Forks Mayor, Nedra Reed, has responded by saying that Dixon did not file the necessary paperwork to receive his overtime payment. She also stated that Dixon was informed that he was eligible for the overtime pay, but also says that the attorney for Dixon said that he intended on filing the lawsuit against the city after Dixon left the police department to work for the Sheriff's department.

Dixon has not offered any public statements and has referred any future comments to David Neupert, his lawyer.

As for Mayor Reed, she said in a statement that the city's attorney is reviewing the issue and there will be a follow-up.

However, Dixon was recently named in a recall petition that was filed earlier this month against the mayor, Nedra Reed. The petition was filed on March 17, 2008, which followed the firings of three employees who worked with the police department. Those employees are JoElle Munger and Tom Scott who were both sergeants with the department, and Deanna Dematteis who was a communications officer. But the firings are said to be a result of alleged misconduct on the part of the employees.

There were two internal investigations that were conducted regarding the hiring practices and lax disciplinary methods of Police Chief Mike Powell. It was also alleged that Powell sexually harassed an employee or employees in April and June of 2007. As a result of the investigation, all city employees were required to take part in training about professionalism and respect. The chief also had to be counseled.

However, a third investigation conducted by Mike Brasfield, the County Sheriff, uncovered an accusation that Deanna Dematteis and another employee were illegally recorded by another officer and not the Chief. Later, there was no proof that the recording existed.

In the recall petition that Dixon is named in, it is said that the recording occurred and, the lack of discipline of that officer who was accused, means that the city is subject to a civil liability and the payment of monetary damages

By Ginger Gillenwater