What’s the status of Officer Andrew McFadden and his lawsuit with the city? Last I heard he was on administrative leave and had his badge and gun taken away. However, I was at the credit union the other day and Mr. McFadden walked by me (in civilian clothes) and I noticed that he was carrying a concealed firearm (which was very noticeable when wearing a somewhat tight polo shirt) belted to his hip. How is it that if he was found unfit to carry a gun on duty that he can be fit to carry one off duty? I know for a fact that one is forbidden to carry off-duty if their right was taken away from their employing agency. — Eye Witness, El Centro
We received this Probe letter in the middle of the month, and by that time, El Centro Police Officer Andrew McFadden had already been terminated by the department, said El Centro Police Chief Jim McGinley.
McFadden had been on administrative leave for undisclosed reasons since early 2011, but was terminated Dec. 21.
McGinley said he would not talk about the reasons behind the termination, but added there is an active appeal of the termination ongoing.
Either way, whether on administrative leave or terminated, McFadden should not have been carrying a concealed weapon, loaded or otherwise.
“Citizens cannot carry concealed weapons in California,” McGinley said.
Still, without knowing when or where this exactly happened, or without a witness coming forward, he doesn’t know that this even happened.
McGinley didn’t have much more to add than that.
McFadden has an active federal discrimination lawsuit going on against the city of El Centro and the Police Department related to him being placed on administrative leave. In the suit, he contends he was repeatedly denied promotions during his 21-year career with the department, that he was retaliated against and that he was not provided reasonable accommodations for his disabilities. Also, McFadden, who is black, claims in the suit there was a pattern of racial discrimination.
We received this Probe letter in the middle of the month, and by that time, El Centro Police Officer Andrew McFadden had already been terminated by the department, said El Centro Police Chief Jim McGinley.
McFadden had been on administrative leave for undisclosed reasons since early 2011, but was terminated Dec. 21.
McGinley said he would not talk about the reasons behind the termination, but added there is an active appeal of the termination ongoing.
Either way, whether on administrative leave or terminated, McFadden should not have been carrying a concealed weapon, loaded or otherwise.
“Citizens cannot carry concealed weapons in California,” McGinley said.
Still, without knowing when or where this exactly happened, or without a witness coming forward, he doesn’t know that this even happened.
McGinley didn’t have much more to add than that.
McFadden has an active federal discrimination lawsuit going on against the city of El Centro and the Police Department related to him being placed on administrative leave. In the suit, he contends he was repeatedly denied promotions during his 21-year career with the department, that he was retaliated against and that he was not provided reasonable accommodations for his disabilities. Also, McFadden, who is black, claims in the suit there was a pattern of racial discrimination.
