Former police chief seeks damages in firing lawsuit

COLSTRIP (AP) – The city of Colstrip and its mayor are defendants this week in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Colstrip police chief Larry Reinlasoder.

The Billings Gazette reports Reinlasoder was fired in May 2012 over several accusations of misconduct, including a female employee who says the police chief asked her to watch pornography with him on a city computer.

His attorney, William D’Alton, says the city was determined to end Reinlasoder’s employment.

The former police chief spent more than 20 years as an officer in Billings, but was put on leave and eventually quit before he could be fired for using city resources to conduct his own side business.

Bozeman attorney Michael J. Lilly is representing the city and Mayor Rose Hanser, and says Reinlasoder’s firing was justified.

The case continues Wednesday.