A Baltimore County cop has won his fight against a brain scan ordered by his superiors one day after he testified against them in a case involving officers who suffered on-the-job seizures.
U.S. District Court Judge Benson Everett Legg signed an order Tuesday barring county officials from requiring 21-year veteran Officer William Blake to undergo any additional medical tests. Police brass had ordered the exam 12 years after Blake suffered a seizure and subsequently returned to work without further complications.
“Detective Blake has dedicated his life and career to upholding the law,” said his attorney, Kathleen Cahill. “With today?s court decision, he stood tall and held accountable the chief of police and county officials who broke the law.”
Terrence Sheridan ? who was then the county police chief and is now Maryland State Police superintendent ? ordered the electroencephalogram, or EEG, one day after Blake testified on behalf of fellow officer Philip Crumbacker during an administrative hearing in 2006. Crumbacker was appealing an unfit-for-duty declaration after he crashed his police vehicle while suffering a seizure behind the wheel.
During the hearing, Blake and two other officers testified they also suffered single seizures and were allowed to return to work. Sheridan ordered all three to undergo tests the next day.
County attorneys are reviewing Legg?s decision, said county spokesman Don Mohler.
“This case has always been about public safety,” Mohler said. “It?s always been about trying to protect the public.”
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled in August 2007 the tests violated the rights of the four officers ? two of whom have been forced to retire. Cahill has said the U.S. Department of Justice is looking into whether or not the county violated the Americans With Disabilities Act in ordering the medical exams.
A Department of Justice spokesperson declined to comment.
