WAYNE – A former Kenova police officer is suing the city after he claims he was forced to quit his job under threat.
Brandon Willis began his employment with the city on Oct. 20, 2008, when he was sworn in as a police officer, according to a complaint filed in Wayne Circuit Court.
Willis claims he was effectively and constructively terminated by the city on Aug. 8, 2014.
The petitioner “was denied all the statutory and constitutional protections afforded him by the West Virginia State Constitution and the West Virginia State Code …”
On Aug. 8, 2014, Willis was interrogated by former Chief Ray Mossman, the former mayor and the city attorney in violation of the civil service protections guaranteed to him, according to the suit.
Willis claims during this unconstitutional interrogation, he was threatened with revocation of his law enforcement certification if he refused to resign from the Kenova Police Department and, subsequent to the illegal interrogation, he was further disciplined by Mossman, who advised him he was suspended pending termination and immediately removed his gun, badge and seized his service vehicle and keys.
On Oct. 7, Willis demanded a hearing before the Kenova Policemen’s Civil Service Commission, but, one has not been scheduled, according to the suit.
Willis claims the City of Kenova has not sought a hearing or taken any action on the complaint except that various members have stated publicly to relatives of the petitioner that he is never coming back to work for the city because he quit.
Willis is seeking a writ of mandamus commanding that he be returned to his position at the police department; that he be awarded back pay and pre-judgment interest. He is being represented by Scott E. McClure of McClure Goad.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge James Young.
Wayne Circuit Court case number: 15-C-231