Metro officer sues bosses, department over transfer

A Metro Police officer has sued the department, saying he was transferred after accusing other fatal traffic investigators of showing up at accident scenes "under the apparent influence of alcohol."

Detective Timothy Babcock's suit, filed Thursday in federal court, also alleges that while he was in the fatal-accident detail he saw fellow investigators put in for overtime to which they were not entitled.

Babcock contends that his First Amendment rights were violated when he was transferred to another traffic unit as punishment for giving a statement to Metro's Internal Affairs Bureau last July. Also his pay was decreased by 8 percent, he says in his suit.

Also named in the suit are Sheriff Jerry Keller, and Babcock's supervisors, Sgt. Curtis Albert, Lt. Joseph Greenwood and Captain Terrance Mayo.

According to the suit, Babcock is seeking damages in excess of $10,000 from the department and in excess of $10,000 from each of his superiors.

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