ACLU Suing Flint Over Police Gag Order
No Response Yet From Flint Regarding Lawsuit
POSTED: 3:08 pm EDT August 28,
2008
UPDATED: 3:21 pm EDT August 28,
2008
FLINT, Mich. -- The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the city of Flint for a ban that prohibits police officers from talking to the media.The 21-page lawsuit was filed late Wednesday night on behalf of Flint Police sgt. Rick Heatherington, Sgt. Lee Ann Gasper and Lt .David Winch.The three said they were punished for talking to the media after Chief David Dicks issued a gag order.The lawsuit asks for an unspecified amount of damages for lost wages.“We sent a letter to them over a month ago asking to rescind the ban,” said Greg Gibbs, a Flint ACLU lawyer. “Nothing happened. It has a chilling effect on their ability to speak under the First Amendment.”The city has not had a chance to respond, so stay with TV5 and WNEM.com as we continue to cover this story.
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