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Ex-officer sues Carlisle for wrongful termination

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 6:25 PM Wednesday, March 10, 2010

LEBANON — The police officer who began the investigation into sexual-explicit images found on the Carlisle mayor’s computer has filed a lawsuit against the city, a day after he was fired.

Mark Brooks of Columbus filed the lawsuit Tuesday, March 9, against Carlisle and City Manager Sherry Callahan in Warren County Common Pleas Court. He is seeking punitive damages in excess of $25,000, reinstatement of employment and other costs.

Brooks said he was dismissed from the Carlisle Police Department after an investigation into his handling of an domestic violence in February. According to the lawsuit, Brooks says he and Officer Steven Badger got into a dispute on how a Feb. 20 domestic violence incident should have been handled and said the facts did not support the decision to arrest a Carlisle man.

Interim Police Chief Mike Bruck contacted Brooks on Feb. 23 and interviewed him regarding the incident. Brooks said he was not supposed to return to work until Bruck completed his investigation, which would be around March 1, the lawsuit said.

On Tuesday, March 9, Brooks, who worked for the police department since May 9, 2009, was fired. Brooks said he has never had a disciplinary action or a complaint filed against him.

Brooks claims in his lawsuit that Callahan is the aunt (by marriage) of Badger. He also said that “Badger is known to Callahan and Carlisle to be a rogue officer by virtue of the discipline contained in his personnel file.”

Brooks said he is the officer who began the investigation into the complaint alleging sexually-explicit images were on Mayor Tim Humphries city-owned laptop computer.

Bruck said late Wednesday that he was unaware of Brooks’ lawsuit and did not believe the city has been served.

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