VENICE POLICE OFFICER FILES SUIT

A VENICE POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS BEEN DISCIPLINED BY HIS BOSS FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST HER, THE CITY, AND CITY MANAGER ISSAC TURNER.  ACCORDING TO THE HERALD TRIBUNE, THE LAWSUIT FILED TUESDAY BY OFFICER DEMITRI SERIANNI ALLEGES POLICE CHIEF JULIE WILLIAMS HAS CREATED A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND HAS VIOLATED HIS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.  THE CITY HAS HIRED TWO OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS OVER THE PAST YEAR IN AN ATTEMPT TO PUT AN END TO DEPARTMENT TURMOIL, BUT NOW CITY COUNCIL MAY HAVE TO MOVE IN TO TRY AND AVOID WHAT COULD BE A LENGTHY AND COSTLY PROCESS.  SERIANNI, WHO IS ON PROBATION WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IS SEEKING MORE THAN $75,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGES PLUS ATTORNEYS FEES AND COURT COSTS.  SERIANNI AND HIS REPRESENTATIVES MET EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH WILLIAMS, TURNER, AND CITY ATTORNEY BOB ANDERSON, BUT THE TWO SIDES COULD NOT COME TO A RESOLUTION.  SERIANNI CLAIMS HE’S BEEN TARGETED BY WILLIAMS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER HE TESTIFIED ON BEHALF OF A FIRED OFFICER IN AN ARBITRATION HEARING AND FOR BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON A SUPERVISOR WHO WAS GOING TO HIS BAIT SHOP BUSINESS WHILE ON DUTY.