LMPD :: Louisville Metro Police Department
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LMPD officer awarded $450K in whistleblower suit against Metro Government

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A Louisville Metro Police officer won a $450,000 settlement this week in a whistleblower case against his own employer: Metro Government.

LMPD Officer Barron Morgan says he was demoted for helping a woman who was in prison for a murder she did not commit.

"I am somewhat relieved that it's over," said Morgan.

Despite being soft spoken, the former narcotics detective did speak up when he needed to.

"This case is far from over to me because this started with Susan King and the horror that she had to go through."

This week, Morgan won a $450,000 settlement against the city after claiming he was punished in violation of the state whistleblower protection act.

"Yes, I felt like I was being retaliated against because I did what I did," he said.

What Morgan did was contact The Innocence Project on behalf of Susan King, who spent six and a half years in prison for a murder she did not commit.

"Well, I just think it's awful what happened to him," she said.

Morgan was in prison for a cold case murder involving an ex-boyfriend whose body was dumped into a nearby river. She says it was physically impossible for her to commit the crime with one leg.

"That officer that did this to me -- he didn't want to hear any of that. He wanted to frame me and get this case solved and whether it was right or wrong," King said about the investigation.

Officer Morgan says after getting a confession from another man, he tried to do what was right but it cost him his position as a detective during restructuring.

"When I wasn't selected to stay in narcotics, I felt like that was, the Susan King issue was why I wasn't selected," Morgan said.

"Despite his proficiency as a narcotics detective, he was not selected for any position within Metro Narcotics and in fact was reassigned to an entry level position in the 8th division on late watch," said Thomas Clay, Morgan's attorney.

"From narcotics to patrol, when you know that you are performing at a high level, it is a slap in the face," Morgan said.

Morgan's supervisor with Metro Police was also reassigned and is suing the city.

That trial starts on Monday.

Meanwhile, Metro Government denies any wrong doing in the Morgan case.

Susan King is also planning to file a wrongful conviction lawsuit against Kentucky Sate Police.