Bradley County District Attorney General Steve BebbNASHVILLE – A former Cleveland, Tenn., detective has filed a “whistleblower” lawsuit against the city, claiming his 2010 firing was the result of “retaliatory” action by top officials, including Cleveland Police Chief Wes Snyder and Bradley County District Attorney General Steve Bebb.
Former Detective Duff Brumley is seeking $500,000 in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages in the lawsuit, filed Aug. 23 in Bradley County Circuit Court.
The suit alleges that “prior to his termination, Detective Brumley became the target of extensive and systematic harassment” by various officials. It also says his First Amendment rights to free speech were violated.
Neither Snyder nor City Manager Janice Casteel responded to requests for comment on Monday and Tuesday. Bebb, said to be out of town by his office, could not be reached.
The lawsuit is the latest of three court filings by Brumley, one involving a disciplinary case and another seeking his job back. He was dismissed by Snyder, a decision later upheld by Casteel after another incident in which Bebb charged Brumley with “illegally” accessing a confidential prescription drug database.