A Connecticut state trooper obtained a $260,500 settlement in a federal lawsuit against Connecticut State Police Union Inc. and department officials. The lawsuit alleged that the trooper was demoted because he resigned from the union.
The plaintiff, Joseph Mercer, was employed part time in the State Police Tactical Unit, and was promoted to operations sergeant, a full-time supervisory position, in 2015. However, after Mercer’s appointment, the police union filed an institutional grievance against his promotion, the complaint said.