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| Former Magnolia officer Crabtree prepares suit against city |
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Former Magnolia Police Department lieutenant Bo Crabtree is preparing to file a lawsuit against the city unless his settlement demands are met. Crabtree’s attorney, Sheila Haley, said in an interview with the Tribune last week that she had given the city a final “pre-suit notice.” “I’ve made a settlement demand of 18 months of severance pay and legal fees,” she said. “If they fail to pay it or enter a settlement agreement in the timeline provided, I will file suit by the end of the month.” Haley said the 18 months of salary pay totaled about $50,000, along with legal expenses around $15,000 to date. “Depending on how the case progresses, some issues are viable today and some issues have to go to the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) because he has additional federal claims,” she said. Haley estimated that the case will “probably take two to four years and probably cost the city half a mil, win or lose.” Crabtree had been with the city for more than seven years until early this year when his position was eliminated in the department. In a statement released after his departure from the city, Crabtree claimed city officials had been retaliating against him since a 2007 investigation that involved him and other officers. “The City of Magnolia has chosen to escalate its continuing retaliation against me for performing my duty as a Texas Peace Officer,” Crabtree said in the statement. “It has been the objective of the Mayor and City Administrator to remove me from Magnolia, at any cost, since my 2007 participation in the investigation against and eventual indictments of Mike Smith and Ron Cunningham.” Police Chief Domingo Ibarra previously said the position was eliminated after a consultant firm’s recommendation, coupled with his own observations and tough economic times. “In consideration of his prior service, I offered him the option of resigning from the department,” Ibarra said in a statement. “He expressed no interest in a reduced rank position with the Department and I firmly believe based upon my years in law enforcement that, having served in the supervisory role of lieutenant, it would not be fair to him or in the best interest of the City of Magnolia or the Magnolia Police Department to force him into a subordinate position.” Magnolia City Attorney Leonard Schneider said last week that the city first received a pre-suit notice from Haley in January. At the time, the notice asked for a settlement demand of 12 months severance pay and legal fees. City council considered it in an executive session during a February meeting, but took no action. Schneider said the most recent notice, in which Haley increased severance pay demands to 18 months, was received too late to include in the city’s March 9 regular council meeting, but will be placed on an upcoming agenda. Comments (2)
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Crabtree makes a big deal about going to the DA. But he (Crabtree) would have never said a word, NOT ONE WORD if it wasn’t for Cpl. Michael Alexander. He (Crabtree) would have just continued on with life as if nothing was going on, since he (Crabtree) told Alexander to let it go. IT, was when the Chief and Captain gave orders to officers to be on the lookout for former Councilman Anderson and Sammy Scott, who was running for Council. The officers were told to follow them and write them for anything they could or make an arrest.
Now, if this was a conspiracy, who would be behind this order? Well one would think Thornton and Williams since Cunningham had just taken over as Chief. But, Williams wanted Cunningham to be Chief when they hired Rex and Anderson was on the board and he selected Rex. So, was Cunningham upset that Anderson did not pick him years back and wanted him out of the picture? Anderson’s involvement in the community has always been one of integrity but has been a thorn in Williams and Thornton’s side for a long time. Anderson just holds them accountable.
Back to Crabtree, if you play the game you will get burnt, the City used a firm to say they did not need him any longer and Texas is a right to work state, so what is the problem. Should he have lost his job because the firm said so, NO, he should not. The Chief is the administrator and runs his department, look what the City had no to long ago when Thornton and Williams buddy (Cunningham) was in charge. A Chief, a Captain, a Lieutenant, a Sergeant for investigations and a Corporal plus the biggest pay raise ever.
So the games continue, at the cost to the tax payers and the livelihood of so many employees. Make no mistake, Williams and Thornton and all councilmember’s past and present that have gone along with Williams and Thornton’s decisions are out of the dislike
for others, or ones that question their decisions, or question their integrity. It would be in one’s best interest never to question or disagree with what Williams or Thornton want, or you to may become a statistic.