A Grand Rapids Police lieutenant is fighting back in an effort to keep his job.
The lieutenant is facing a termination hearing next month for his actions when a Kent County prosecutor was pulled over after drinking and driving the wrong way on a city street. But now he has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and his own department for violating his rights.
Lt. Matthew Janiskee is the only one of three officers who has not made a deal with the department to keep his job following the Nov. 19, 2016 incident caught on video.
Former Assistant Kent County prosecutor Josh Kuiper has resigned after he was pulled over in this incident caught on video.
In recordings, the officer that pulled him over called his officer to say that he had Kuiper pulled over and that the prosecutor was “hammered.”
Janiskee was in charge and he tells the officer to stop talking and call 3407, a non-recorded police line used by police to make personal calls for investigations where the names of victims or confidential informants may be discussed.
However, it turns out the non-recorded line was recorded and now the city wants to use that recording against Janiskee.
The lawsuit, filed Friday, says making those recordings available for prosecution and to the public violates Janiskee’s rights.
Speaking Friday, attorney Andrew Rodenhouse said he believes this recording opens the city up to $100 million in liability.
He also says he believes that the city has been recording that line hundreds of time for more than two years and that is evidence that should have been made available to defense attorneys in who knows how many cases.