Tampa's Ex-Assistant Chief Fired, Retaliation Claims Dismissed

0:00Tampa's former assistant police chief Ruth Kate got fired back in March for not living up to the job's demands. City human resources dug into her claims of discrimination and came back with a clear no-nothing there. After the firing notice, Kate asked her attire instead, cashing in her accrued leave after 29 years on the force. Officials green-lit it and let her announce to the team, but she switched gears, crying retaliation and loyering up, that prompted the police department to put her on administrative leave while HR checked her story. She pointed to her age, sex, and racist factors, plus payback for backing an officer's complaint over keeping a canine partner. The HR report shut it down, saying no proof of any policy breaks or discrimination. As an act will exec higher, she served at the administration's call and chief Lee Berkall penned it on weak leadership, poor judgment, bad communication, and eroded trust at the top. Lee Berkall stressed, he takes these allegations dead serious, but the facts just don't back

1:03Kate's side. Case lets close on the city's end, keeping the focus on running the department smooth. That's your update from Tampa Bay News today, powered by AI.