Opinion ID: 73662
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Brown was an officer on the Fort Lauderdale Police Force from 1981 until 1986. Cochran was chief of police for the City of Fort Lauderdale from April 1983 until July 10, 1987. As chief of police, Cochran had the discretionary authority to recommend to the city manager the dismissal or suspension of a police officer. 2 In a letter dated June 19, 1986, Cochran states that he recommended Brown's dismissal because of deficiencies in performance and/or conduct. Cochran's letter notes the following about Brown's performance: (1) Brown's performance rating between 1981 and November 1985 was overall satisfactory in the employee performance rating reports; (2) in his November 1985 rating report, Brown's performance rating was marginal with less than satisfactory ratings in 12 of 16 categories; (3) in Brown's November 1985 rating report, specific deficiencies noted included quality of work, attendance, and self-expression; (4) a follow-up report conducted 90 days after the November 1985 evaluation again rated Brown as unsatisfactory; (5) Brown's attendance at a required report improvement course was erratic; and (6) Brown had a disciplinary record containing two written reprimands. Cochran recommended that Brown be terminated and in July 1986, Hoffman approved the recommendation. Brown alleges that Cochran dismissed him because of his race and not because of his poor work performance. Brown contests many of the incidents discussed in Cochran's termination letter and argues that Cochran portrayed Brown unfairly in the reports. Brown points out that Cochran's termination letter claimed that Brown was reevaluated within 90 days of his November 1985 rating report. Brown indicates that Cochran did not follow the procedures set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the City and the union representing the City's police officers, which required the City to reevaluate within 90 days from the date of the report an employee who received a marginal or unsatisfactory overall rating. Rather than reevaluate Brown within 90 days, Cochran unilaterally extended the reevaluation period for four months and ordered Brown to attend a report improvement course. Cochran contends that had he conducted the evaluation within 90 days, he would have immediately terminated Brown because, in that time frame, Brown would not have had the chance to improve his writing skills, which were necessary in order to remain employed as a police officer. Brown also points out that the termination letter noted that he had received a poor attendance rating at the report improvement course. Brown claims that he had a valid medical reason for not attending all the 3 classes, but Cochran refused to excuse Brown from the course and Brown was disciplined for the classes that he missed. Brown alleges that white officers were allowed to miss work due to injuries and provides a list of other officers who missed work because of injuries but had no disciplinary action taken against them. Cochran alleges that there is no evidence of disparate treatment and Brown's attendance at the course was his last chance to show improvement.