Minn. fire captain sues chief over demotion

By David Chanen
The Star Tribune

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis fire captain is suing Fire Chief Alex Jackson over allegations she was demoted because she criticized his leadership.

Jean Kidd, one of the city's first female firefighters, was a deputy chief until Jackson demoted her last summer.

Her suit filed in federal court in Minneapolis Thursday detailed several possible reasons why Jackson may have retaliated against her.

Kidd gave a deposition in another retaliation suit against the department and filed her own retaliation complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

She also had several negative comments on a job feedback survey for Jackson.

Shortly after her demotion, Jackson said in a staff meeting that he "didn't want anyone in a position where they were unhappy or unable to work together to deal with all of the issues facing us in the next couple of years," according to the suit.

Kidd received a positive job review the year she was demoted.

Kidd was one of three finalists for the chief's position in 2007, a job that Jackson won.

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