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Santa Barbara loses $1.28 million whistleblower lawsuit

November 10, 2019

By CCT STAFF

The city of Santa Barbara lost a $1.28 million lawsuit to a former employee who said she was terminated after voicing safety concerns. [Santa Barbara Independent]

Amid a shortage in dispatchers, in early 2016, police department brass decided to lower testing score requirements from 90 to 65 percent. Bridget Bryden, a dispatcher for 24 years, noted her concerns that lowering standards could result in health and safety risks to officers and the public.

According to the suit, shortly after she voiced her concerns, police department brass fired her.

The city argued that Bryden quit, and was not fired.

Nevertheless, the jury voted 11-1 to award her $1.28 million.


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so much for “at will” employment contracts.


-3

Whomsoever was responsible for not “hearing” the whistleblower while they were on the job, should lose theirs for the hole that that award blew in the pension deficit bubble in Santa Barbara, like every other municipality, has on their balance sheet. Every one of them.


When bad behavior is not punished, it is encouraged.


City managers and mayors are ultimately responsible for cities.


Let’s talk about who is at fault in SLO County. How about it?


10

Of course we know no one responsible for this will be held accountable, only the taxpayers will have to pay.


9