NLV fire official sues city

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Kim Smith

Tuesday, July 27, 1999 | 10:15 a.m.

North Las Vegas Fire Marshal Joe Skaarup is suing the city of North Las Vegas claiming city officials violated his constitutional right to free speech last spring.

Skaarup's attorney, Kirk Kennedy, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court Monday. North Las Vegas City Attorney Richard Maurer was unavailable for comment this morning.

Kennedy said Skaarup, a 10-year fire department employee, was suspended for two weeks without pay in March 1998.

"My client had made comments to other employees throughout the workday about what he believed were unfair practices targeting female employees," Kennedy said.

Skaarup believed that female employees, particularly within the fire department, were being demoted and moved to other departments because of their sex, Kennedy said.

City officials apparently heard about the comments, held a disciplinary hearing and suspended Skaarup, Kennedy said.

"The city basically disciplined him for acting on his free speech rights," Kennedy said. "My client is well respected within the fire department and I don't think anything can be said about his work performance."