JESUP, Ga. (AP) - A southeast Georgia city has fired its police chief after three former police employees sued, alleging the chief repeatedly sexually assaulted and harassed them.
The city of Jesup made the announcement Thursday after officials said earlier this month they were beginning the process to fire Mike Lane, who had been chief since 2018.
Three women sued in federal court in Brunswick on Feb. 1, alleging Lane subjected them to “repeated lewd, sexual comments and unwanted physical touchings,” making their jobs so intolerable that they resigned. They sued not only Lane, but the city of Jesup and City Manager Mike Deal, saying the city ignored harassment complaints and Deal changed rules to keep Lane on the job. The women seek lost pay and other damages.
The lawsuit says the women suffered illegal sexual discrimination and said the plaintiffs also intend to allege civil rights violations. The Associated Press isn’t naming the women because they say they’re sexual assault victims.
The city said Lane retains employee grievance rights. The City of Jesup named Capt. Perry Morgan and Capt. Alex Reddish to jointly fill the role of acting chief of police.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also examining Lane’s behavior. Jesup officials said earlier this month that inquiry is ongoing.
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