BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) - Sophia Police Chief Tomi Peck and
others say they did nothing wrong in firing the town's only black police
officer after six months on the job, and they want his lawsuit dismissed.
Damon McDowell sued Peck, Town Council and others earlier
this month, claiming he was racially harassed and falsely accused of wrongdoing
throughout his employment.
McDowell says the harassment included hiding paperwork so he
missed court appearances and telling jokes with racial epithets in his
presence.
In a response filed with U.S. District Court in Beckley, the
town denied every accusation Wednesday and said it's immune from liability
because it acted in good faith.
It says any harm McDowell suffered is the result of his own
misconduct and argues that if any defendant broke the law, it was
unintentional.