Gazette: UI officer named in age discrimination lawsuit is a defendant in another lawsuit
Lang
12/29/18
One of the officers named in three age discrimination lawsuits against University of Iowa Police is already a defendant in a separate lawsuit against the force.
According to The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Captain Mark Bullock entered the locker of officer Jeffrey Williams on April 19th and seized his firearm, ammunition, badge and other equipment.
According to a lawsuit, Williams had been placed on administrative leave after Bullock launched an internal investigation days earlier relating to a search Williams had performed of a dorm room that turned up marijuana and drug paraphilia. That investigation came at the request of UI Department of Public Safety Director Scott Beckner. The lawsuit claims Williams had a spotless record, and no complaint had been filed relating to the search.
Williams was fired on May 3rd. His suspension came just before he was set to be deployed for one year overseas with the Air National Guard. Williams is suing the UI, saying his firing violated state laws protecting deployed servicemen and women.
In addition to being named as a defendant in Williams’ lawsuit, Bullock is also one of several officers accused of receiving preferential treatment in lawsuits filed by three former UI Police managers.
The lawsuits were filed by former UI Department of Public Safety associate director William Searls, Capt. Ian Scott and Capt. Loren Noska.
The three were notified on April 20, 2017, their jobs were being cut by Beckner, who cited “an organizational realignment” as the reason.
All three men are in their 50s. Their lawsuits claim their duties were given to two employees who were less qualified, had less experience with the department and were about 20 years younger.
They also claim Beckner blocked them from consideration for a sergeant’s position that was later advertised even though they were qualified and he gave the job to a less experienced 32-year-old.
