L.A. to Appeal Jury’s Award to Fired Officer
The city of Los Angeles announced Monday that it is appealing a federal jury award of $154,747 to a police officer who was fired three years ago after he refused to give police investigators a urine sample to be used to test for drug use. He was subsequently reinstated.
Instead of giving the sample to police on Feb. 21, 1986, Officer Johnny Lee Jackson had the drug test done at a private hospital. It came up negative, but Jackson was fired for insubordination for not submitting to the original order. A six-member jury sided with Jackson on Sept. 14 after deliberating two days.
The city’s appeal, said Deputy City Atty. Arthur B. Walsh, is based on its continued belief that the Police Department had the right to demand the sample. Neither Jackson nor his attorney could be reached for comment.
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