Police Chief fired in Georgia because he served in Iraq
By Erick Posted in War — Comments (8) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I wouldn't expect this in the South, but it happened.
John King is the first Hispanic Police Chief in metro Atlanta. He also wears the Bronze Star related to his service in Iraq.
He served in Iraq for eighteen months, came home, and felt the need to take a short vacation to recover before returning to work.
The Doraville, GA city council decided to fire him as a result.
Luckily, the Mayor reinstated Chief King.
Councilmen Lowe, Hart, and Spangler voted to fire the Chief. They deny that it was actually his service in Iraq, but their statements were mostly related to Chief King being gone to Iraq and not available.
Pitiful.
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Police Chief fired in Georgia because he served in Iraq 8 Comments (0 topical, 8 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
and made that an expensive lesson for the city of Doraville. As a matter of law, he retains his status with regard to any pay or benefits that are hinged on the mere passage of time as if he had remained on the job. He is legally entitled to up to a five year leave of absence for active duty. He has some period of time, I think up to a year, but it might be less, to report for duty to his employer after the end of his active duty, and enjoys a one year protection from dismissal after his return (with some limitations for egregious misconduct).
He'd have probably been better off if they'd have fired him. With a good lawyer, he wouldn't have had to work for a good, long while.
In Vino Veritas
had he said the extra time off was to attend some diversity awareness/sensitivity training classes.
"You don't hear anyone saying he got spit on, do you? See, all that stuff is just made up. We support the troops."
But it seems more like typical, petty small-city local politics. I mean, it still seems like a bull___ firing, but it doesn't look as though he was fired because he served in Iraq.
This was big news on Monday.
On the bright side, there ought to be many cities and counties who would make him a better offer. I know he'd probably like to stay where he is but some jurisdictions would be happy to have a veteran in charge.
If anyone knows a way to pass the word to the Chief I hope you will tell him I honor him for his service. I retired last year after 27 years in the Navy: the closest I ever came to harm was getting in the way of the mad crowd of Sailors headed for the pier after liberty call. Hearing what happened to the Chief after he was called up out of his civilian life to go in harm's way for America makes me sad.
What America needs is more politicians who have served in America's Armed Forces rather than have served their own self-interests.
a better person and a better police chief. The town should (and probably is) very grateful, appreciative and proud. He may even have gotten a parade.
Those who voted to fire him should be fired themselves.
Thank you for your service, Chief!
You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.
has been going on for years.