CASSELBERRY, Fla. — A federal harassment and discrimination lawsuit filed against the City of Casselberry was just withdrawn.
That suit was filed weeks after former Police Chief William McNeil resigned. He stepped down hours after Investigative Reporter Karla Ray started asking questions about alleged misconduct and a sexting scandal within his department.
The lawsuit accused McNeil of sexual harassment and gender and racial discrimination, and it also accused the City of Casselberry of not doing enough to stop it. It’s something the city has adamantly denied.
City Manager Randy Newlon told Eyewitness News today in a statement, “We have always believed these claims were without merit. The City and its police department, without distraction, can continue to do what we do best - serve the citizens of Casselberry.”
McNeil’s attorney told us he had no comment on the withdrawal. Despite admitting to sexting a subordinate officer, McNeil fought to keep his law enforcement certification and won. He will wrap up a six-month suspension this spring and will then have a year probation before he could go back to work wearing a badge.
When we asked if there was a settlement of some sort in the case, both McNeil’s attorney and the attorney for the former employees suing the city told us ‘no comment.’