The former employee reported concerns that police officers were using people who had recently overdosed as informants on drug deals.
DULUTH, Minn. — The City of Duluth is facing a second whistleblower lawsuit after a former employee accused leadership of retaliating after she reported concerns within the police department.
Law firm Storms Dworak LLC filed the lawsuit on behalf of Jessica McCarthy-Nickila on Monday. In a press release, the firm said McCarthy-Nickila was a program coordinator on opioid response initiatives when she reported Duluth police officers for conduct that she believed was unlawful and discriminatory.
In the lawsuit, she said police officers ridiculed her and subjected her to hostility. She said officers on the Substance Use Response Team made discriminatory comments about community members.
Additionally, McCarthy-Nickila reported concerns to her supervisors that some Duluth officers were using people with substance-use disorders and recent overdoses as informants for drug purchases. In the lawsuit, she said she believed this behavior was unethical and illegal.
After she reported the conduct, McCarthy-Nickila said city leadership disciplined her and removed some of her job responsibilities. She resigned due to the retaliation, according to the press release.
Law firm Storms Dworak is also representing retired Police Lieutenant David Drozdowski in a retaliation lawsuit against the City of Duluth. Drozdowski raised concerns about discrimination, missing...
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