Home / Crime and Justice / Ex-LAPD Commander Wins $5.7M After Wrongful Firing Lawsuit
Ex-LAPD Commander Wins $5.7M After Wrongful Firing Lawsuit
20 Mar
Summary
- A jury awarded $5.7 million to a former LAPD commander.
- She claimed she was wrongfully fired over an alcohol-related incident.
- The commander argued she was treated unfairly compared to male colleagues.
A former Los Angeles Police Department commander has been awarded $5.7 million by a jury, who found in her favor in a wrongful termination lawsuit. The commander, Nicole Mehringer, alleged that she was unfairly fired following an alcohol-related incident in April 2018.
During the incident, Mehringer and a subordinate, Sgt. James Kelly, were found in an LAPD vehicle, with both showing signs of intoxication. Glendale police arrested them, with Mehringer facing public intoxication charges which were later dismissed after she completed a recovery program. Kelly pleaded no contest to a DUI charge.
Mehringer rejected a demotion and subsequently lost her job after a disciplinary panel's ruling. Her lawsuit contended that male colleagues involved in similar or more severe incidents were not terminated, with some even retiring quietly or receiving promotions.
The jury sided with Mehringer, who testified that while she acknowledged her misconduct, her case was handled with significant unfairness. This verdict, reached after years of legal proceedings, is seen as a restoration of her reputation.
