JERSEY VILLAGE – A wrongful termination lawsuit containing some shocking allegations has been brought against the city of Jersey Village and its manager, Austin Bleess.
Charles Foerster, who served as the city’s chief of police for nine years, filed the suit on May 21, alleging he was fired for engaging in protected speech.
According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 13 Foerster learned Councilman James Singleton allegedly violated the city charter by interfering in a Police Department personal matter – an officer by the name of Mark Zatzkin was facing discipline action and blackmailed Singleton to get his punishment reduced.
Zatzkin was in possession of a memorandum he had written describing the circumstances of how Singleton was forced to resign from the Police Department prior to his election to city council.
“Specifically, the memorandum detailed how Singleton had used police computers to watch pornography and masturbated in patrol cars,” the suit states.
As soon as Foerster learned Singleton was interfering in Zatzkin’s personal matter, he contacted the city manager. When the city manager failed to take action, Foerster put his concerns in writing. Two days later, the city manager suspended him.
“The next day, Foerster went outside the chain of command and, as a citizen, communicated his concerns about the blackmail and Singleton’s violation of the City Charter to the City Council and the Mayor of Jersey Village,” the suit states. “Defendants terminated Foerster as a direct result of his protected speech.”
The lawsuit
Singleton was a Jersey Village police officer from May 2008 to November 2008. A department investigation concluded he used police computers to watch pornography and masturbated in patrol cars, forcing him to resign.
Singleton was elected to the Jersey Village City Council in May 2018. Two months later, Officer Zatzkin wrote a memorandum detailing the “circumstances surrounding Singleton’s ignominious resignation from the Police Department,” the suit states.
When Foerster met with Bleess (the city manager) to discuss the memo, Bleess said: “I don’t want this, and if this memo ever finds its way to the public, you’ll be terminated,” according to the suit.
On Aug. 27, 2019, Zatzkin failed to immediately render aid after a use of force. An investigation concluded he be demoted from corporal to patrolman and be placed on probation.
According to the suit, Zatzkin reminded Foerster that he had the memo and would take it to Singleton to make him “fix things.” Zatzkin also filed a formal appeal, which Foerster denied.
On Sept. 13, 2019, Singleton directly contacted the officer who had reported Zatskin’s use of force violation. That same day, Bleess reversed Foerster’s denial of Zatzkin’s appeal.
“Based on Zatzkin’s prior statement about using the memo as leverage and the fact that Singleton had called the reporting officer, Foerster concluded that Zatzkin likely did blackmail Singleton,” the suit states.
Foerster, who was terminated on Oct. 25, 2019, contends he was fired for using his personal email to inform the mayor and the rest of city council of the likely blackmail.
He is seeking injunctive relief, as well as actual and punitive damages.
Attorney Julie John of Wiley Wheeler represents him.
Filed in Harris County District Court, case No. 2020-30991