A Seattle police officer, back on the job after having been fired by the former Seattle police chief in 2007, is now bringing a federal civil-rights lawsuit alleging that he was prejudged and denied due process by the department.

Felton Miles was a 20-year police veteran with a clean work history when he was charged with felony harassment of his ex-wife and her boyfriend in a domestic violence incident. In a trial a year later, though, a jury deadlocked 10-2 to acquit him; to avoid retrial, he pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of misdemeanor harassment.

Miles claims he never had a chance to defend himself in the police hearing that preceded his trial. The police chief who fired him countered that departmental policy as it then existed required the termination of all employees charged with a felony.

Miles had support for his reinstatement from Seattle's Public Safety Civil Service Commission, which stated after his trial that a mere criminal charge should be deemed an insufficient basis for firing a public employee. The Commission voted 2-1 to return him to his post.

Miles' lawsuit makes a number of demands in response to the firing that he says "branded and tarnished" his reputation. He seeks back pay for the time he was unemployed, as well as money damages for the  emotional distress and depression he says he has suffered.

In the altercation that led to his arrest and eventual misdemeanor charge, Miles' ex-spouse's boyfriend said that Miles threatened to kill him, and that he feared he would be shot.  Miles denied that allegation, while acknowledging that he did threaten to hit the man.

Related Resource: www.seattletimes.nwsource.com "Reinstated Seattle cop sues city over firing" August 25, 2010