Raleigh, N.C. — A federal appeals court ruling last week in a lawsuit involving a Michigan police department was critical of Raleigh's incoming police chief.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the City of Grand Rapids' motion this week for a new hearing in the matter and criticized Harry Dolan, 49, for waiting six weeks to suspend a police officer after concluding that she was psychologically unfit to continue in her job. He also had suspended a second female officer on the same grounds.
"Chief Dolan’s decision to wait to suspend the plaintiffs until two months after the injunction hearing raises concern about the sincerity of his belief that the plaintiffs posed a danger to themselves or others," the ruling stated. The issue had grown out of a suit several Grand rapids female officers had filed claiming gender discrimination and other issues.
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said the city was aware of the lawsuit and that Dolan had disclosed it and discussed it at a public forum.
The decision, he said, is another legal step in a longstanding legal battle, and it was nothing that caused him to be concerned about Dolan's ability to serve as police chief.
Dolan acknowledged the matter last month at a public forum before he was named police chief.
"Lawsuits have been certainly difficult times, but even from that negative, watching the police department come together, rally and provide exceptional service, even while living through great adversity, has been some of the highlights of my career," he said.
Dolan, who served 24 years with the Grand Rapids Police Department, nine as chief, replaces former Raleigh police Chief Jane Perlov. He will take over Sept. 4.
Court Opinion Criticized Raleigh's New Police Chief
Copyright 2009 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
27 Comments
-
- Christmas parade marks start of holidays
Updated Nov. 21 11:31 p.m. | Slideshow |
- Wake County holds flu vaccine clinics for children
Updated Nov. 21 11:43 p.m. |
- Bill would require DNA sample from N.C. suspects
Updated Nov. 21 4:48 p.m. - Damage to Old Chapel Hill Cemetery sparks preservation effort
Updated Nov. 21 4:48 p.m. - N.C. man gets life in prison for woman's fatal scare
Updated Nov. 21 11:38 p.m.
- Christmas parade marks start of holidays
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- 2009 Raleigh Christmas Parade crowd
Posted Nov. 21 2:41 p.m. - 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade
Updated Nov. 21 6:16 p.m. - Pet Photos | November 16 - November 22, 2009
Nov. 20, 2009
- 2009 Raleigh Christmas Parade crowd
Photo Spotlight
-
Bands, marchers in holiday paradeChoose your group to watch their performance in the 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade.
-
Web only: Complete 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas ParadeWatch the parade in its entirety from the comfort of your computer any time.
-
Search for missing IRS refundsThe Internal Revenue Service released the names this week of more than 100,000 taxpayers who have not received their 2009 income tax refund.
-
North Carolina unemployment ratesView an interactive map with county unemployment numbers.
-
A year of N.C. Drought MapsView a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.










STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS


Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.