The commander of the Gulf Coast Technology Center was fired Tuesday after information was revealed about a special counsel investigation concerning former Police Chief Paul Prine.
Bill Athenas, with Birmingham-based law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, said the investigation centered around four topics: a contract with 321z Insights LLC, the chain of command with the Gulf Coast Technology Center and its use of resources, a breakdown in relations between city administration and Chief Prine and grievances expressed by Prine.
The investigation found that Gulf Coast Technology Center commander Kevin Levy provided false testimony during the course of the investigation, a claim Levy's attorney denied and called "reckless."
"These claims include false accusations that Commander Levy gave false testimony during the City Council's Special Investigation, violated city policy by altering the signature page of the 321z contract and tampered with governmental records," Attorney Christopher Callaghan said. "I want to categorically state that these allegations are entirely false. Commander Levy did not give false testimony. He did not violate any city policy, as he did not alter any signature page of the 321z contract. Furthermore, Commander Levy did not tamper with governmental records."
Athenas said Levy's actions violated Alabama law. The findings were turned over to the District Attorney's Office and the Alabama Ethics Commission.
Callaghan said he believed, during the investigation, that Athenas was pursuing a pre-determined outcome directed by Stimpson's office, as he previously told 1819 News.
"There have already been three prior investigations that found Commander Levy did nothing wrong," Callaghan continued. "The Office of Professional Responsibility, the Burr Foreman Report, and the Alabama Attorney General's office all concluded that Commander Levy acted appropriately. This investigation is a witch hunt against Commander Levy because he refused to go along to get along. It is also retaliation for filing a Notice of Claim with the City of Mobile in late June."
Callaghan believes his client was used as a scapegoat and said the investigation was an act of "retaliatory behavior."
"This is what the city does whenever it faces scrutiny," Levy added. "It finds a scapegoat and retaliates against that scapegoat. First, it was Chief Prine. Now, it is Commander Levy. We will not stand by and allow this miscarriage of justice to continue. All the City of Mobile did today was strengthen Commander Levy's claims against it."
As for the other topics of the investigation, Athenas said no violations were found in the chain of command, a breakdown of relations between city administration and Prine and one of two grievances by Prine.
Athenas said a second grievance by Prine was outside the scope of the investigation.
The full report can be viewed online.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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