Former RTD Police Chief in Colorado Dismissed for Speeding, Policy Violations, Alleges Racial Discrimination in Lawsuit

The tale of Joel Fitzgerald, the former chief of police for the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Colorado, continues to unravel, with speeding and numerous violations of internal policies cited as reasons for his dismissal in September. A separation of employment letter, attained by KDVR, and signed by RTD CEO Debra Johnson, outlined the internal policies Fitzgerald allegedly broke.

Further details surface from a termination letter obtained by 9NEWS, which reveals the findings of a neutral, third-party investigator. The investigator concluded that Fitzgerald acted in a manner suggestive of being “above policy,” having routinely dismissed concerns from subordinates and business partners, undermining the larger agency’s protocols in the process.

With his reputation and career in the balance, Fitzgerald has taken his battle to the legal arena, filing a lawsuit against the RTD for alleged racial discrimination. Fitzgerald’s claim posits that his termination was not duly justified, and thus represents a breach of his contract, as reported by CBS News Colorado. He is seeking to bring the case before a jury, though contact with his attorney went without immediate response Tuesday afternoon.

In his tenure as chief of police and emergency management, which started in August 2022, Fitzgerald positioned himself as one of the state’s most highly compensated chiefs in this role. Despite the controversy shadowing his departure, the full details of which remain obscured by the legal scuffle, the RTD did provide CBS News Colorado with a copy of the termination letter delivered to Fitzgerald.

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