Ex-deputy claims he was wrongly fired

SANDPOINT — A former deputy and candidate for sheriff is seeking a half-million dollars in damages from Bonner County for wrongful termination.

Rocky James Jordan alleges in a tort claim filed late Friday he was fired by former Sheriff Elaine Savage for undisclosed reasons following the 2008 primary.

Both Jordan and Savage lost the Republican nomination for sheriff to Daryl Wheeler, who went on to win in the general election.

In his claim, Jordan alleges Savage put him on probation for allegedly violating department policy while he was campaigning off duty on the eve of the May 27 primary vote.

Jordan maintains in the claim that he was wrongfully reprimanded for discourtesy and unbecoming conduct when he was confronted by an aggressive dog owned by a Bonner County man known for his dislike of law enforcement officers. Jordan called out for the owner, but received no response and chased the dog back onto the property, the claim said.

The claim states the dog owner came outside and threatened Jordan, which prompted him to call 911. While waiting for the deputy to arrive, Jordan claims the man threatened to bash his head in with a two-by-four.

No criminal charges were filed as a result of the confrontation, court records show.

Jordan’s legal counsel, Boise attorney Joe Filicetti, said in the claim that his client did not violate sheriff’s office policy and added that Jordan was “cleared” by an Idaho State Police investigator.

“Claimant exercised his rights as a United States citizen campaigning for office and did nothing to violate Bonner County Sheriff’s Policy,” Filicetti wrote in the claim.

The tort claim also references Jordan’s arrest of a 29-year-old woman for a no-contact order violation on Dec. 11, 2008, in Clark Fork. Jordan was still on probation at the time.

Filicetti said on Monday that Jordan was reprimanded for his conduct in that incident, although the nature of the alleged violation is not clear. Filicetti said this reprimand paved the way for his firing about a month later.

However, Filicetti said Jordan did nothing wrong in conducting the arrest. The court file in the matter contains no indications there was a problem with how the arrest was handled.

“I didn’t see anything that violated department policy,” Filicetti said.

Savage said she had not seen the claim and on the advice of legal counsel declined to comment.

“I figured it was coming, but I don’t have anything to say,” she said.