Attorney Representing F.C. Officers Protests Admonition

Christopher E. Brown, the attorney representing the four employees of the Falls Church Police Department who filed a $10 million racial discrimination lawsuit early this year, has protested a letter from the private law firm defending the department that admonished one of his clients. Brown charges that the letter assailed his client, Officer Derrica Wilson, for “breaking the chain of command” in the police department by taking evidence of alleged “misconduct by a high-ranking official in the command staff of the police department” directly to the city manager. Brown said the law firm also threatened him with legal sanctions. Brown quoted the Falls Church Police Department’s Manual of Rules which stipulates that “employees may by-pass the chain of commend to prevent or report serious conduct.” Brown said that the lawsuit was amended to include an incident that occurred earlier this year when Ms. Wilson found a book on her desk opened to a page with a picture of the legendary “Hangman’s Tree” of Falls Church.