Halifax Daily News via The Associated Press
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Canada (CP) -- A suspended Halifax police officer who assisted at the World Trade Centre rescue is suing the city and the police force for malicious prosecution, defamation and negligence.
Jamie Symington was suspended more than two years ago after he went to help in the rescue effort at the World Trade Center in New York City. He was on sick leave from the force at the time.
He and his wife, Angeline McCarthy, are claiming general damages, special damages, punitive and exemplary damages, pre-judgment interest and costs.
The 11-page suit was filed Jan. 27 in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Truro by lawyer Gary Richard.
Police spokesman Sgt. Don Spicer said the force could not comment on the suit.
“It’s a matter that’s in the hands of legal staff,” he said.
Symington, a Halifax police officer since 1988, alleges his work environment grew increasingly hostile, when, as a member of the K-9 unit in 1998, he successfully fought a directive from the department that police dogs would be “killed upon retirement.”
On June 11, 2001, Symington injured his elbow and went on sick leave, the suit states. He was also working as a double for Harrison Ford on the movie set of K-19: The Widowmaker.
His family doctor then found he was suffering from a stress-related illness, brought on by the hostile work atmosphere.
On Sept. 11, 2001, he and his former police dog, Trakr, drove to New York City.
“For some reason unknown to Symington, his superiors were incensed by his rescue mission. Symington’s superiors at HRP decided at this time to have Symington fired and branded as a criminal for his rescue mission to the World Trade Center,” states the suit.
On Sept. 21, 2001, he was suspended because his trip to New York was “inconsistent” with his sick-leave status, and constituted “deceit, disorderly conduct and neglect of duty.”
Police then started a fraud investigation against Symington because he collected sick leave benefits, “while he was not, in fact, sick.”
The suit says the officers were motivated by malice because they knew Symington was not on sick leave for a physical injury, but “a psychological, stress-related illness.”