Ex-Lexington Police Officer alleges discriminations due to disability

Former Lexington cop Aaron Kidd has sued the Department of Criminal Justice Training for firing him from his position as a trainer. 

Kidd suffered multiple injuries during his tenure as a police officer, which includes a facial wound when a suspect shot him in 2003. The crux of Kidd's lawsuit, however, is a brain injury he sustained during a Lexington police training accident. After the injury, Kidd retired from active duty in 2018 after which he was offered a job at the Department of Criminal Justice Training as a firearms instructor. After a scheduled evaluation by a doctor, Kidd was deemed fit to join the job. In February 2019 he was called in by Human Resources who informed him that he had to undergo another evaluation to continue at his post. The reason being his supervisors repeatedly heard him complaining about physical pain and memory loss. When Kidd asked for further clarification, he was told by Training Operations Director Stephen Long that the agency was "concerned about their image". Kidd's attorney said that the department was concerned about a sheriff or higher official finding out that the firearms instructor had a brain injury and what it would do to their image. Kidd alleges that he was fired because of his disability and in retaliation because he complained to the department that his Americans with Disabilities Act rights were infringed. 

According to his lawsuit, Aaron Kidd is seeking financial damages and legal costs. He also filed an additional motion for summary judgment asking the court to rule that the department violated the Kentucky Whistleblowers Act by firing him after his complaint of discrimination. As a part of this motion, Kidd asks to be reinstated and awarded pay. 

Source: Lexington Herald-Leader