SHERMAN – A former assistant chief of police with the city’s police department alleges in a federal lawsuit that his demotion was a retaliatory act.
Stephen A. Dean’s suit, which was filed on Apr. 30, claims Sherman demoted him to a position supposedly known as “administrative lieutenant.” The position was never heard of and bore no written description, according to recent court papers.
Dean, a veteran of the force for nearly 16 years, asserts the defendant removed him as assistant chief of police because he opposed what the original petition says was the “discriminatory” termination of then-Sherman Chief of Police, Otis Henry.
The defendant reportedly did not divulge to the plaintiff any police violation which would have justified the demotion, but instead, threatened him with termination.
Dean says he lost up to $20,000 in income per year plus income-based benefits as a result of the ordeal.
His suit seeks his reinstatement as assistant chief and demands a jury trial.
Robert E.L. “Ed” Richardson of the Richardson Law Firm in Sherman serves as the complainant’s lead counsel.
Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas Case No. 4:18-CV-0312