A fired Falls Township police officer claims in a new lawsuit that he has provided information to the FBI as part of an ongoing investigation involving the municipality’s government. He also says he was wrongfully terminated by township officials because he is a whistleblower.
William Tanner IV, of Buckingham Township, filed the lawsuit in county court this week against the township. (Click here to read the full lawsuit)
Advertisements
Tanner, who is represented by Philadelphia-based The Pearce Law Firm, is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, loss of income, and legal costs from the township.
In the lawsuit, Tanner revealed he has been cooperating with an ongoing federal investigation into Falls Township, which has been taking place for several years. The investigation has also touched on the Pennsbury School District and Montgomery County. It has been led by the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI and received assistance from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and Bucks County Detectives.
Falls Township police Chief Nelson Whitney has previously confirmed he has cooperated with the FBI as part of the ongoing investigation. A grand jury in Philadelphia has also heard testimony from former township officials, including Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, as previously reported by this news organization.
Advertisements
Tanner was charged in 2021 after a DUI crash in Buckingham Township. He remained employed by the township and was sentenced to a first-time offender program in August 2022. The judge also ordered him to serve 50 hours of community service, take highway safety classes, and undergo treatment.
The crash happened off-duty and there have been no allegations made public that Tanner was intoxicated while working as an officer.
Advertisements
According to the lawsuit, Tanner served a 30-day suspension due to the crash. His filing deems the punishment was “excessive” and “unlawfully improperly imposed.” He then returned to work on administrative duty and was denied the chance to earn overtime.
In spring 2022, Tanner took heat for sending an meme some considered inappropriate to other officers in the wake of a Montgomery County officer’s death. The news of the incident quickly spread through the police community in Bucks and Montgomery counties, causing Falls Township police officials and a Montgomery County police chief to discuss what happened, according to sources.
Tanner, according to the lawsuit, learned an internal investigation into the meme incident found he did not violate departmental policies, but it was revealed the Falls Township Board of Supervisors were determining Tanner’s employment future.
Advertisements
Tanner remained an officer through mid-October 2022 when he was fired by the township, according to the lawsuit. Sources inside the township government and police department confirmed Tanner was terminated from employment in mid-October 2022.
Tanner alleges his rights were violated and his firing was in retaliation for his cooperation with the FBI as part of their probe looking at the municipality.
Advertisements
In the lawsuit, Tanner revealed that he had reported “potential wrongdoing and/or potential illegal conduct, allegedly committed by certain Falls Township police officers, as well as certain members of the Falls Township Board of Supervisors, and appropriately and lawfully made good faith reports of such alleged conduct that involved corruption, waste, fraud and abuse of office and/or position” to the FBI in August 2020.
Tanner claims township officials learned of his contact with the FBI in 2021.
Advertisements
“Prior to his termination, it was known by All Defendants that Plaintiff had provided information and participated in the FBI investigation, which is protected by Pennsylvania’s Whistleblower Law,” the lawsuit states.
Credit: Amanda Burg/LevittownNow.com
The lawsuit states Tanner continues to assist federal agents and other agencies with their ongoing investigation. The filing states the fired officer has provided information and evidence to authorities.
Advertisements
Tanner claims in his filing he was “improperly” denied a due process employment hearing with township officials following his DUI crash, which an arbitrator found was true.
Tanner also claims he was denied a second due process employment hearing related to the meme he shared and a grievance is pending an arbitration hearing.
“All Defendants have engaged in an ongoing pattern and practice of retaliation against Plaintiff for his above-described lawful and protected good faith reporting and investigation assistance which includes harassment, intentional imposition of retaliatory and unjustified discipline and/or excessive discipline, damage to Plaintiff’s ability to earn income among other retaliation,” Tanner’s lawsuit reads.
Advertisements
In response to the lawsuit, which has been rumored to be in the works in recent weeks, Jeff Dence, the chairman of the Falls Township Board of Supervisors, told LevittownNow.com: “We don’t comment on personal issues, but I can confirm [Tanner] is no longer employed by Falls Township.”
Tanner or his attorney didn’t comment on the filing.
Advertisements
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
