Jury Awards Minn. Cop $184K In Discrimination Suit

A federal jury has awarded $184,000 to an Oakdale (Minn.) Police officer who sued his department chief for discrimination .

Officer Sean Coffey, 34, had lobbied for members of the police officers union to issue a vote of no confidence against Chief Bill Sullivan, which it did at a Feb. 9, 2009 meeting, according to the lawsuit.

The suit alleged that Sullivan retaliated by placing Coffey on paid administrative leave and later recommending to the City Council that it fire him. He was terminated the following month, in March 2009, but reinstated in October of that year following arbitration.

Read the full Pioneer Press article.