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47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, October 10, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 29, 2004 Sidelined cop sues Rogue River Officer Roger Bigham claims unlawful employment practices in seeking a $750,000 civil judgment By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — A police officer who has spent the past six months on paid leave is suing the city in anticipation of losing his job. Officer Roger Bigham is seeking a $750,000 judgment against the city for unlawful employment practices, defamation of character and retaliation for filing a worker-compensation claim. Filed Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court, the suit alleges that Police Chief Ken Lewis recommended Bigham’s termination earlier this month. Bigham, however, remains a city employee, said City Administrator Mark Reagles, adding that he could not discuss further details of Bigham’s personnel records on advice of the city’s attorney. "We would love to be able to share our side," Reagles said. The city had not been served with the lawsuit Tuesday although officials were notified several months ago of Bigham’s intent to sue, Reagles said. An internal investigation of Bigham’s job performance was conducted earlier this summer, but those reports have not been made public. Advertisement Bigham’s attorney, Joe Charter, said he assumed the city would grant Lewis’ request for Bigham’s termination. Charter said, however, that he believed his client would retain his job after an arbitration process stipulated in the police department’s union contract. Even if Bigham didn’t lose his job, the officer would still have grounds to sue for defamation and discrimination, Charter said. Bigham was cleared in June of allegations of official misconduct, a misdemeanor crime. Resulting in an Oregon State Police investigation, the accusations sprang from two separate claims that Bigham stopped a female driver for no reason and handcuffed another woman who refused to apologize to a neighbor for damaging some candles that she had borrowed, Charter said. OSP investigators declared both stories unfounded. Lewis initiated the OSP investigation, Charter said. Lewis also reprimanded Bigham after he filed a claim for worker compensation benefits for an injury suffered on the job, Charter said. The officer hurt his Achilles tendon during a police chase in May 2003, Charter said. In the course of the chase, Bigham also fired his handgun at the suspect’s fleeing vehicle, an action investigated last year by OSP. Although a Jackson County grand jury ruled that Bigham was justified in shooting, the tactic is against police department policy. Reach reporter Sarah Lemonat 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities