The free speech issues debates that ensued during the dark days of Covid public policy are still playing out. But a legal dispute from that era between Petersburg Police Chief Jim Kerr and the Petersburg Borough ended this month with a $70,000 out-of-court settlement.
The case that centered on free speech rights during the Covid-19 pandemic is reflective of many around the country in which those who opposed mask and vaccine mandates suffered retaliatory actions. Opposition to mandates often drew intense public criticism, including doxxing or harassment. Anti-mask protesters were labeled as “anti-science” or “selfish,” leading to personal attacks and heated public debates in the Anchorage Assembly meetings.
In Petersburg, the lawsuit stemmed from Kerr’s testimony during a fall borough Assembly meeting on Nov. 17, 2021, when he spoke against the proposed mask mandate. He testified as a private citizen, he said, about how mask mandates would be hard to enforce. After he testified, Kerr experienced what he perceived to be retaliatory behavior from two Assembly members — Jeff Meucci and David Kensinger — both now former Assembly members. He lodged a complaint that the two harassed him.
Soon, Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht ordered Kerr to submit any future public statements to him for prior review, citing concerns that the police chief’s comments could be mistaken for official borough policy, since he was also an officer of the law.
Kerr filed a lawsuit in state court, arguing that the borough had violated his First Amendment rights, defamed him, and portrayed him in a false light. By 2023, the case was moved to federal court to deal with the constitutional issues. Most of his claims were dismissed by District Judge Sharon Gleason, who determined that a jury trial would be necessary to decide the remaining free speech issue, unless both sides reached a settlement.
In June, the parties entered mediation and reached an agreement: The borough agreed to pay Kerr $70,000, and the case was formally dismissed in court on July 2.
The borough later issued a statement saying the settlement was in the best interest of the community and that both parties agreed to move forward without further public comment. The details of the settlement beyond the payment amount were not disclosed.
“The parties have mutually agreed to amicably resolve the litigation filed by Police Chief Jim Kerr against the Petersburg Borough and Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht for the sum of $70,000, paid by the Borough’s risk pool insurer. Like most settlements, both parties made concessions to reach a mutually satisfactory compromise. The parties understand it is important for borough officials to work together in a positive and forward direction to provide efficient governmental services for Petersburg. The parties feel this resolution is in the best interest of the public and the appropriate decision to enable the parties to return to the business of government. The parties have agreed that they will not issue or make any further public statements on this matter, as they wish to move beyond these matters, which have been fully and finally resolved,” the press release states.
Chief Kerr, who has been with the department since 2013 and who has been police chief since 2018, remains in his role as chief, although the incident will have undoubtedly strained relationships in city government.
Good for him for standing his ground. We can only pray we’ll never fall victim again to such a scam that was the Covid scare.
MOA pays off “grieved” Union employees w/ sums like this on a weekly basis.
When I was at the Muni I got a 55K settlement from the city.
My shop stewart informed me that there were 3 Muni settlements that week (he was the one who went to the city treasurer to get the checks)
He said in addition to my 55K there was an over 100K payout that week and another that was smaller then mine.
Don’t worry folks …. it’s only money.
Don’t worry “george”…. It’s only constitutional rights. As a union member, you should know how much we’re robbed by unions. There should be no unions for public employees. They are a reason why this state is in a pickle over pension obligations.
George is another entitled likely low performer muni employee, taking advantage of Every letter of the law work around he can find absolutely disgusting. Unless George wants to tell us what wrong the city did against him. Might be interesting to hear what they did to him.
Some of the Muni creatures, some not a lot…find out that a supervisor made the wrong phone call to get somebody in on overtime outside the seniority list. Then the entitled employee deeply offended they were not called first
puts in for the overtime because they were disenfranchised. And they get paid for doing nothing. Yes, unions have completely cocked up this city. Not every Muni worker is like this, but there’s about 5% that are nothing less than lazy thieves. Looking for every opportunity to scam And work the system. Confront them or even politely ask and they get very upset.
I do hope George will tell us what the city did to him $55000 pay out Must have been a real bad one.
This is how you know the true fascists were those emotionally manipulative leftist karens who berated you and cancelled you and called you a monster for not accepting their cult talismans.
Clear as day. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. Now we just continue to watch the downfall of all wokester pharma cultists.
The left SO leveraged the jab and masking and it was horrifying! In the middle of the hysteria it was hard to realize that we were even in the constitutional republic of America! Let us resolve to never, ever let the left gain the upper hand again and thereby control our society. Who they are- absolute control freaks- became crystal clear and it was absolute, tyrannical madness.
It was a control test. They won’t quit.
It is nice to see a “good guy” win one.
Never again.