Fired officer files lawsuit

A fired Yakima police officer has filed a lawsuit contesting his dismissal.

Mike Rummel, a five-year officer, filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Yakima County Superior Court.

Rummel contends he became a pawn in a dispute between police Chief Sam Granato and the officers union that led to his termination in December 2005.

Granato wanted random drug testing for the police force; union officials said Granato threatened to fire Rummel when the union wouldn't agree. Granato countered that the union's description of that meeting was false.

The lawsuit accuses the city of negligence in hiring, retaining and supervising Granato, alleging that he had a known history of retaliation.

Granato has consistently denied any retaliation in this and other cases.

City Manager Dick Zais said that the city denied Rummel's earlier claim that had to be filed before the lawsuit could proceed.

"We will defend that," Zais said Thursday.

City officials ruled that Rummel had broken a last-chance agreement stemming from a drunken-driving arrest when he flashed his badge to enter a bar while he was off duty and called a 9-1-1 call-taker who was an ex-girlfriend.

Rummel said he produced the badge in response to a bouncer's inquiry while picking up a friend at the bar.

The phone call, reported before the bar incident, was described as brief and did not immediately result in termination. Because a supervisor had ordered him not to contact the woman, the call resulted in an insubordination allegation.

After binding arbitration, the hearing officer ruled Rummel deserved his job back. A Superior Court judge overturned that decision when the city appealed.

The state Public Employment Relations Commission, in a separate case, agreed that the union had not presented enough evidence that Rummel became the victim of Granato's frustration over the issue of random drug testing for the police force.

Both findings have been appealed.

Another fired officer who is suing the city, Jeff Brownfield, has made similar claims against Granato.

A union complaint of unfair labor practices by Granato regarding assignments held by an officer and sergeant is also pending before a state hearing examiner.

The city paid $50,000 to settle another lawsuit in which a civilian employee alleged that Granato and other supervisors had not adequately responded to her complaints that an officer was making fun of her speech impediment.

*Mark Morey can be reached at 577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.