New York City Police Department to pay $500,000 in wrongful termination suit

NEW YORK (AP) A New York city police officer who was charged with a crime that he knew was false and falsified his official records has settled his wrongful termination lawsuit, saying the city’s attorney failed to follow due process.
J.D. Davis, 37, was fired in February 2017 after being charged with filing a false police report in a traffic stop, resisting arrest and criminal trespassing.
The case against Davis has been pending since January 2017, when he filed a lawsuit against the city alleging wrongful termination.
Davis’ lawsuit says he was terminated after he had filed a false complaint with the New York Police Department and was not allowed to appear in court.
It is not clear how much money was paid in the settlement.
A lawyer for the city said it was not related to the case, but the settlement could be a significant win for the officer.
The city’s attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment.
The lawsuit alleged the city terminated Davis because of his lack of professional competence.
It alleged he was demoted and forced to work in “underpaid” conditions, and that he was denied medical leave and was suspended from duty.
Davis’ attorney, Christopher Ritchie, said the settlement was part of a settlement that was reached in a wrongful termination trial in January 2017 in which Davis was acquitted.