Guardsman cop sues state over demotion

[unhappycamper]

Guardsman cop sues state over demotion
By David Tirrell-Wysocki - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jun 13, 2008 13:10:15 EDT

CONCORD, N.H. — A bitter dispute involving two newly merged New Hampshire police agencies has deepened with a lawsuit in which a sergeant claims he was demoted for publicly criticizing his bosses.

William Carey Carlberg says his demotion also was illegal because it happened while he was on active military duty, flying helicopters for the National Guard.

Carlberg’s U.S. District Court lawsuit names officials including the head of the Safety Department, the attorney general and a judge. Associate Attorney General Richard Head says the state will vigorously contest the lawsuit.

Carlberg is a former state Highway Patrol lieutenant. That agency was merged into the State Police in January, but the groups have different unions. The unions and their officers — including Carlberg, as president of his — have sued each other over issues including a Web site and alleged unprofessional conduct.

He maintains Commissioner John Barthelmes illegally demoted him from Highway Patrol lieutenant to sergeant after the agencies merged, and while he was deployed with the National Guard. Carlberg argues he was demoted for speaking out and filing complaints about “corruption, malfeasance, wastefulness and incompetence” by Safety Department managers and employees.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_policelawsuit_061308/