Former Troy police officer suing town and mayor
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TROY, Tenn. — A former Troy police officer is suing the town of Troy and Mayor Jimmie Hart for discrimination and civil rights violations. The former police officer is Melodye Pierce, and her attorney, Mike Weinman, said the papers were served to the mayor this week. Pierce began working as a Troy police officer in April 2013 and was fired this past August. Weinman said Hart almost did not hire her because she is a woman. “But [he] indicated to her that he was going to hire her because the chief wanted her, because she had excellent credentials and qualifications as a police officer,” Weinman said. During her 17 months with the department, she claimed she was exposed to a hostile work environment because of her gender. “We are claiming that the police chief made some inappropriate type comments to her,” Weinman said. Weinman said there are recorded conversations between Pierce and former Police Chief Larry Farley where he attempted to get her to engage in sexual conduct, which she said she refused. Weinman said the recording device is part of their uniform, and they intend to use these recordings in this lawsuit. “We don’t specifically know that he was aware, but he should have been aware because the light was on the entire time he was speaking with her,” Weinman said. Weinman also said Pierce brought attention to the fact some of the male officers were not wearing their bullet-proof vests and the department needed a consistent policy. To use this as a basis for her termination is a violation of her first amendment rights, according to Weinman. WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News reached out to the town of Troy’s attorney, H.A. Nohsey, for a comment. He said he did not want to discuss the case at this time. Mayor Jimmie Hart also said he would not discuss the lawsuit and that he does not yet have an attorney. Weinman said he has been handling these cases for more than 20 years. He said the defendants have 20 days to file an official response to the complaint.
