Demoted Nashville Captain Awarded $1.8 Million

A former Nashville fire captain who was demoted over social media posts, has been awarded $1.8 million in damages by a federal court jury for violation of his First Amendment rights. Captain Tracy Turner claimed he was investigated and demoted because his posts “offended someone in the African American Community.”

WSMV is reporting that the verdict awarded $1,775,513 in damages for retaliation against Turner based on his exercise of free speech. They quoted his attorney, Larry L. Crain, Esq. as saying:

• He was demoted from his position as Captain to the lowest rank in the department based on his political comments regarding such issues as violent protests by Black Lives Matter, the COVID-19 mask mandate and global warming.
• This is an important vindication of a public employee’s freedom to exercise their right of free speech.
• We should never tolerate government retaliation against an employee for speaking out on a matters of inherent public concern.

More on the story.

Here is a link to earlier coverage including a copy of the complaint.