Cop Loses Retaliation Suit After Complaining of Workplace Hazard

CHICAGO - A federal appeals court has affirmed summary judgment for police supervisors accused of retaliating against an officer who alleged that he was denied benefits and sick pay for reporting environmental hazards at a firing range. Bivens v. Trent, et al., No. 08-1156 (7th Cir.).

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said in its Jan. 6 opinion that Jimmy W. Bivens' assertion that his 1st Amendment right to free speech was violated must fail because, as the U.S. Supreme Court has previously found, his work-related statements did not constitute protected speech Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410 [2006]).

Bivens …