Opinion ID: 745257
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Chief Wiley and the City of El Dorado.

Text: 40 Finally, Miller contends that the district court erred in granting summary judgment to Chief Wiley and the city of El Dorado. We disagree. 41 Municipal liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 arises if injury results from action pursuant to official municipal policy of some nature. McGautha v. Jackson County, Mo. Col. Dep't, 36 F.3d 53, 55-56 (8th Cir.1994) (quotations and citation omitted), cert. denied, 515 U.S. 1133, 115 S.Ct. 2561, 132 L.Ed.2d 814 (1995). This liability for violating constitutional rights may arise from a single act of a policy maker.... Id. at 56. However, that act must come from one in an authoritative policy making position and represent the official policy of the municipality. Id. 42 Under Arkansas law it is the police chief of a municipality who is given authority to suppress breaches of the peace, an arguably policy-making position. See Ark.Code Ann. § 14-52-202(c). Under Arkansas Code § 14-52-202(b)(1), the police chief may appoint deputies, and the police chief is responsible for the acts of the deputies. See Ark.Code Ann. § 14-52-202(b)(1). In this case, Chief Wiley appointed Captain Ellis. Captain Ellis dispatched Officer Sartor to Deneen's apartment, and Officer Sartor asked Miller to leave his apartment under orders from Captain Ellis. Because Chief Wiley is statutorily responsible for Captain Ellis's decisions, Miller argues that Captain Ellis's orders to Officer Sartor should be imputed to Chief Wiley. Because Chief Wiley is therefore ultimately responsible for Officer Sartor's alleged constitutional violation, Miller argues that the city of El Dorado should be liable for the policy decision to ask Miller to leave his apartment. 43 Miller's argument is simply that a superior should be made liable for a subordinate's decision. Although clothed in Arkansas statutory terms, this is no more than an attempt to impose liability under a theory of respondeat superior. This theory of recovery is precluded under § 1983. See Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 385, 109 S.Ct. 1197, 1202, 103 L.Ed.2d 412 (1989) (Respondeat Superior or vicarious liability will not attach under § 1983.). Accordingly, we affirm the district court's grant of summary judgment to Chief Wiley and the city of El Dorado. 44 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the district court. 6