Page 5 - FOP BlueNote 2017 May June Issue East FINAL

JOHN LEDFORD CASE MAKES PRECEDENT FOR
OFFICERS STATEWIDE AND SLAMS THE STATE FOR

ATTEMPTING TO SCAPEGOAT AGENT LEDFORD
By Terry Mangum – Legal Aid Committee

John Ledford of Madison County the towel and agreed to Agent Led-
has been locked in a multiyear strug- ford’s proposed relief.

gle with his former employer, the The John Ledford case presents

N.C. Department of Public Safety an important story for FOP and all of
over Ledford’s job and career as a our principles. The FOP saw the

police officer. A longtime FOP merit in John Ledford and his case

member, John Ledford had served as and we proudly supported him all the

an agent with the N.C. Alcohol Law way. For over a hundred years, the

Enforcement Agency for many FOP has stood tall to protect police

years. Agent Ledford became the officers from unlawful actions. The

victim of one of the oldest problems FOP stands for equal opportunity in

confronting American law enforce- the workplace and we are adamantly

ment officers: disparate treatment opposed to employment discrimina-

and discrimination. Agent Ledford tion and arbitrary actions against po-

was singled out for disparate treat- lice officers. John Ledford and the

ment and terminated from his job FOP persisted and worked together

without cause by the North Carolina for several years achieving a valua-

Department of Public Safety. Pictured: John Ledford ble appellate case precedent for all

The case was tried and the Judge, officers and individual relief for
the Honorable Fred Morrison, ruled DPS’s conduct in violation of law. Agent Ledford.

strongly in Agent Ledford’s favor Judge Linda Stephens wrote the de- Ledford had served as Director of

and awarded comprehensive relief cision, which was joined by Judges ALE, and was reassigned back to

including reinstatement, back pay Donna Stroud and Lucy Inman. The serve as a Special Agent as admin-

and counsel fees. Judge Morrison’s Court of Appeals concluded by istrations were about to change in
detailed decision specifically found boldly stating that “this Court de- Raleigh. Former DPS Commissioner
that Agent Ledford had become a clines DPS’s invitation to turn Led- Frank Perry of the N.C. Department
“marked man.” The Department of ford into a scapegoat….” DPS’s pro- of Public Safety fired Ledford fol-

Public Safety (“DPS”) appealed tracted effort to turn Agent Ledford lowing a phone call to a DPS man-

Judge Morrison’s decision to Supe- into a scapegoat failed because five agement official, “who stated that

rior Court. Following the hearing, the fine judges had the courage to en- Ledford’s reassignment should not

Superior Court Judge also ruled in force the rule of law. Not a single have occurred and that they’re going

Agent Ledford’s favor. Consistent judge sided with DPS. to fix that if they even have to just get

with its custom for many years, DPS DPS however launched an appeal rid of the position in the budget.”

appealed again, to the N.C. Court of to the N.C. Supreme Court where we Judge Morrison found that

Appeals. were poised for another showdown. “Commissioner Perry did not pre-

On May 3, 2016, the North Caro- In addition to the briefs filed by John pare the dismissal memo, did not
lina police community experienced Ledford’s FOP assigned counsel, the know who did, nor did he know why

one of its finest days when the Court FOP decided to further support the two different versions were pre-
of Appeals struck a powerful blow case with a separate Amicus Curiae pared.” The preparation of two dif-

against the discrimination practiced Brief. The case was scheduled for ar- ferent versions of the termination re-

by DPS against Agent Ledford. The gument on April 12, but shortly be- veals that someone was playing

Court of Appeals issued a compre- fore argument, DPS finally threw in

hensive ruling and blasted the core of Continued on Pg. 7

www.ncfop.org 5