droctogon2000
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Massachusetts
I was forced into resigning from my fire service job of 4 years. Allegations of drug use on duty came about which prompted my superiors to act before word got around. An on-duty police officer came to the station to use the bathroom. He said he smelled what he thought was marijuana. He left that morning and returned the following morning to confront me about it. There was no official statement made, nor was I asked to go to the police station to talk about it. The officer made a comment that I should go and talk to my fire chief about the incident before the officer's letter about our conversation hit his desk. After speaking with him he told me to go back to the station and continue my duties. A few hours later I had the Board of Fire Engineers at my station ordering me to go home on paid administrative leave. Two days later we had the Engineers meeting. We discussed the situation and after defending my position, I was given two choices. I could either continue working amisdt an investigation that could result in termination or to resign. I chose to resign due to the fact that I can't afford a lawyer and that the department already has plenty of political and legal issues of its own. I believe that I was forced into resigning and now there is a specific, notorious for speaking when not spoken to, slandering my name to all points of town and beyond. My argument is that I believe that this is defamation of character. Any thoughts?
I was forced into resigning from my fire service job of 4 years. Allegations of drug use on duty came about which prompted my superiors to act before word got around. An on-duty police officer came to the station to use the bathroom. He said he smelled what he thought was marijuana. He left that morning and returned the following morning to confront me about it. There was no official statement made, nor was I asked to go to the police station to talk about it. The officer made a comment that I should go and talk to my fire chief about the incident before the officer's letter about our conversation hit his desk. After speaking with him he told me to go back to the station and continue my duties. A few hours later I had the Board of Fire Engineers at my station ordering me to go home on paid administrative leave. Two days later we had the Engineers meeting. We discussed the situation and after defending my position, I was given two choices. I could either continue working amisdt an investigation that could result in termination or to resign. I chose to resign due to the fact that I can't afford a lawyer and that the department already has plenty of political and legal issues of its own. I believe that I was forced into resigning and now there is a specific, notorious for speaking when not spoken to, slandering my name to all points of town and beyond. My argument is that I believe that this is defamation of character. Any thoughts?
