From Myers v. City of Centerville, decided Thursday by the Sixth Circuit (Judge Richard Suhrheinrich, joined by Judges Karen Nelson Moore and Eric Clay):
By nearly all accounts, James Myers was a model employee for the City of Centerville, steadily climbing the Police Department's ranks over three decades to become a detective sergeant. In 2015, however, Myers started causing headaches for the City's bigwigs—in a smalltown, Frank Serpico sort of way. He reported several serious allegations of misconduct among the Department's upper brass, some of which have yet to be fully investigated.
{[In particular, i]n October 2018, Myers learned that Brad Kavalunas, a longtime employee of the City's Public Works Department "with whom [Myers] was familiar," was fired for actions and speech that the City deemed "bigot[ed]" and harassing. Although Myers was not involved in any investigation leading to Kavalunas's termination, Kavalunas asked him for "a character letter." Myers obliged, writing a letter off-the-clock and at home; that letter, which the parties dub the "Brannon Letter," was later given to Manager Davis by Kavalunas's attorney.} … The City … suspend[ed] Myers without pay for five days. Not long thereafter, the City fired Myers, allegedly for secretly recording a meeting between him, City Manager Wayne Davis, and Police Chief Matt Brown.
Myers sued, claiming he was retaliated for his speech, including the letter supporting the Public Works acquaintance; here's the court's analysis, which for procedural reasons is focused on the suspension based on the letter:
