Former Michigan police chief awarded $1.2 million, says he was wrongfully fired

A former police chief was awarded $1.2 million by a jury in Bangor, Mich., after claiming he was fired for complaining that he was a victim of unwanted sexual advances from a former boss.

But an attorney for Bangor, a city with a population of 1,900 located in southwest Michigan, said that the jurors "chose to completely ignore" testimony from a witness who said the former police chief, Hothman Misane, was actually dismissed for his mishandling of a criminal investigation, according to Fox News.

The attorney for Bangor said the city is considering every available option to contest the result of the trial.

Misane had told jurors in federal court that he was fired in 2021 for complaining that he had been sexually harassed by Tommy Simpson, the Bangor city manager who had also served as police chief. Simpson denied the allegations, saying in an email on Friday that "I did not sexually harass anyone," and that he had nothing to do with Misane's firing.  

"We are extremely pleased with this result and will be happy to see our client move forward with this matter behind him," said Jon Marko, Misane's attorney.