Former police chief files new suit

Former Police Chief David Haynes has filed a lawsuit in Deschutes County against the City of Sisters and City Administrator Barbara Warren.

Haynes served as police chief from June 1, 1991 until he was fired on May 15, 1997.

From January, 1996, until he was dismissed, Haynes and City Administrator Barbara Warren had a number of disagreements over the police department budget and her refusal to pay for overtime earned by individual officers.

In April, 1997, police officers sued the city over the non-payment for accrued leave, which they believed they were owed under city policy. Until he was fired a month after that lawsuit was filed, Haynes had sided with the officers.

The city settled the lawsuit with the officers in July, 1997, paying $30,000, including the disputed wages and attorney's fees.

After his firing, Haynes filed suit in federal court, alleging violation of his civil rights. The federal claims were dismissed last year, with the judge saying that an administrative employee such as Haynes could be fired by the city council for any reason.

The dismissal of the federal lawsuit has been appealed, according to James M. Brown, the attorney representing the former chief.

The second lawsuit in state circuit court, dated December 29, 1998, alleges that Warren and the city dismissed Haynes "in retaliation for his objecting to the city's refusal to pay accrued leave time to City police officers as required by state and federal law and for his objecting to his forced participation in the City's refusal to pay City police officers for their accrued leave."

Haynes also alleges that Warren denied Haynes a salary increase, forced him to take wrongful actions in his supervision of employees, and "gave false reports and otherwise negative information to City of Sisters council members upon plaintiff and his performance by reason of personal antagonism and not performance grounds."

Haynes is asking for $650,000 from the city, and an additional $200,000 from Barbara Warren, individually.

The Nugget was unable to reach city representatives for comment by press time.

According Haynes' attorney, Jim Brown, a status conference on the lawsuit is set for March 31 before Judge Michael Sullivan.