A former city worker has hit the City of Atlanta with a lawsuit claiming she was fired after alerting personnel that Mayor Kasim Reed used federal money for police cars on vehicles to chauffeur him and his family around.
Tracy Woodard, the former manager of the Atlanta Police Department said she was terminated and her position was eliminated after she told retired Police Chief George Turner and current Police Chief Erika Shields about Reed’s alleged illegal activity, according to WBS-TV. Filed Wednesday, April 5, under the Whistleblower Act, the suit also claimed Turner used federal funds and drug seizure money to pay for officers’ overtime.
Woodard’s attorney, Micah Barry, told WSB on Tuesday, April 11, he was unable to talk without consulting with his client who was unavailable, but he said the lawsuit speaks for itself.
“The City of Atlanta has not yet been served with a complaint,” a spokesperson for Reed said in a statement to the news station. “Accordingly, we are unable to comment at this time.”
Woodard is suing to return to her job and for back pay and unspecified damages. City Hall told WSB she was fired for “not reporting expenses and grant funds appropriately.”
