An Oakdale police officer has sued the city of Oakdale and Chief Bill Sullivan, accusing him of violating freedom of speech, defamation of reputation and retaliating against a whistleblower.

Officer Sean Coffey, who was fired for insubordination in 2009 and reinstated after an arbitrator's ruling in 2010, seeks a jury trial in federal court.

The suit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, alleges that disagreements between Sullivan and Coffey began in 2008 and then, in June, led to "severe and pervasive harassment by his superior officers" when Sullivan became aware Coffey intended to take legal action.

The following week, in early July, an internal complaint was filed against Coffey for "paperwork completion errors," the suit alleges.

Sullivan said Monday he hadn't seen the suit and under city policy couldn't comment.

Coffey's firing came into public view after some Oakdale police officers accused Sullivan of a pattern of harassment and alleged that Coffey was the latest victim. The union that represents most of the patrol officers, investigators and school resource officers, Law Enforcement Labor Services Local 197, sent a letter notifying the city of a no-confidence vote in Sullivan's leadership.

A management study, for which the city paid nearly $50,000, concluded that the police department should reorganize to improve internal communications. Sullivan pledged to improve relations with his officers as a result.

Sullivan, who joined the Oakdale force in 1988, has denied the alleged harassment of officers and said disagreements started with his "by-the-book" management style and an unwillingness of some younger officers to accept constructive criticism.

The suit alleges that Sullivan muzzled Coffey's First Amendment right to speak freely, retaliated against Coffey for reporting violations in the department despite his right to do so under Minnesota's whistleblower law, and defamed him by making false and misleading public statements.

Coffey, represented by attorney Matthew Morgan of Minneapolis, seeks punitive damages.

Kevin Giles • 651-735-3342