Former Ashland police officer settles lawsuit with city for $1 million

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Ashland police officer has settled his lawsuit with the city, according to his attorney.

Andy Hirth of TGH Litigation said former officer Tom Whitener settled his claims over wrongful firing with Ashland for $1 million. The two sides were set to go to trial on July 6.

Whitener sued Ashland in 2023, claiming the city did not follow state law dictating the procedures by which a city can fire a police officer. Whitener said the city retaliated against him after reporting misconduct by former Chief Gabe Edwards, who left in 2023 amid a state investigation into his use of a law enforcement search system.

Hirth said the case would be formally settled in court "in the coming week." ABC 17 News has asked the city for a copy of the settlement.

“Officer Whitener did what we would hope all police would do in his situation: he spoke up when he saw another officer — in this case, the Chief of Police — breaking the law," Hirth wrote in a text to ABC 17 News. "He knew he could face retaliation for doing so, and he did it anyway because it was the right thing to do. We need more law enforcement officers like Tom Whitener in our communities and on our streets. It was an honor to represent him in this case, and I’m thrilled to see him vindicated through this much-deserved settlement from the City.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the claims against Edwards that he used the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System for non-work-related reasons. Whitener's lawsuit claimed Edwards used information he found there and shared it through an anonymous Facebook page. Special prosecutor Ben Miller did not charge Edwards because the highway patrol did not give him a probable cause statement supporting charges.

Leadership in the Ashland city government has turned over since Whitener's lawsuit and the fallout of Edwards' resignation. Chief Scott Young took over APD shortly after Edwards was placed on leave. An interim city administrator took over in May when Kyle Michel left. The city is searching for a permanent hire for the job.