MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -- A former fire captain has filed a lawsuit against a Tennessee city stating he was wrongfully forced to resign and targeted because he's black.
News outlets report former Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Capt. Theodore Pertiller filed the suit against Murfreesboro last week.
The lawsuit says that Pertiller was wrongfully disciplined twice, while following training protocols and while checking fire hydrants.
It also says that a battalion chief was altering Pertiller's time records and mislabeling his overtime hours, leaving Pertiller without the extra pay.
The lawsuit says Chief Mark Foulks gave Pertiller an ultimatum: resign or forfeit $400,000 in retirement funds.
City spokesman Mike Browning says the city knows the complaint exists but wasn't formally served.
Pertiller is suing for compensatory damages. He was with the department for over 30 years.