JACKSON, Wyo. — Roger Schultz, a former lieutenant for the Jackson Police Department (JPD), who argued he was forced to resign in 2020, was awarded $235,000 in a federal trial that concluded on Friday in Cheyenne.
In August 2020, Schultz resigned after public controversy ensued from a police blotter post he composed that included a flippant statement about a juvenile having sex with an adult.
After the post was live for a few days, it was removed and an apology was issued by JPD.
“Like everyone, we sometimes make mistakes,” said JPD. “We learn from those and strive to do better.”
At the time, Schultz had been with the Jackson Police Department for more than 20 years from 1997 to 2020. A year after he resigned, Schultz filed a lawsuit against JPD, originally seeking $1 million in damages.
Court documents show that on Aug. 21, 2020, current police chief Michelle Weber visited Schultz at his home and told him he needed to resign from JPD.
Schultz’s lawyer argued that he was forced to to leave his job without due process, whereas the defense claimed he voluntarily resigned.
“[Schultz] has presented evidence … that he was told he would be fired if he did not resign,” said Kelly Rankin, U.S. Magistrate judge for Wyoming.
On Friday morning, the jury returned its verdict awarding Schultz $235,000 in damages, siding with his argument that he felt forced to resign and was denied an informal pre-termination hearing promised in the Town of Jackson Policy Manual.
