THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 14, 1995 TAG: 9503140376
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B9 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
A federal court judge in Norfolk ruled Monday that the town of Smithfield had legitimate reasons for firing former police officer David A. Richardson.
Richardson, in a lawsuit seeking more than $500,000, said the town had violated his right to free speech by firing him for insubordination. He was fired when he did not answer questions by Police Chief Mark A. Marshall about efforts to expose alleged police corruption.
Richardson said he had seen evidence of altered arrest reports and traffic reports and unserved criminal warrants against a relative of a prominent Smithfield resident.
Jeremiah A. Denton III, representing Richardson, contended that his client's devotion to justice paid off in the forced retirement of then-Police Chief Claiborne A. Havens.
Marshall, who became chief in August 1992, was also named in the suit. He fired Richardson when he refused to provide answers about copies of documents removed from department files.
U.S. District Judge J. Calvitt Clarke Jr. said, ``The questions posed to him did not violate his right to free speech.''
Richardson's allegations, and those of a fellow officer whose lawsuit is still to be heard, were investigated by the state police. The inquiry found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. by CNB