She spoke for Caldwell — and then resigned. Now she might sue the city
Another lawsuit could be headed for the city of Caldwell.
Char Jackson, who left her job as the city’s spokesperson last month, has filed a tort claim over allegations that her resignation wasn’t voluntary and was the direct result of “a calculated campaign of gender-based harassment, defamation, and administrative retaliation.”
The Idaho Statesman obtained the claim through a public records request.
Jackson alleged that she was targeted by the city’s administration, including new Mayor Eric Philips, for her “professional integrity” and “unwavering support of Chief Rex Ingram’s successful initiatives to modernize the Caldwell Police Department.”
Ingram, who has been named in several lawsuits himself, has also filed a tort claim against the city, accusing the recently elected mayor, along with other unnamed employees, of engaging in efforts to “intimidate” and “force his resignation through improper means.” In a statement, the city said the chief’s claims lacked merit and were a “baseless demand on taxpayer resources.”
And should Ingram decide to sue, the city and its insurer said in a letter denying the allegations that they are “fully prepared to defend against his claims through trial.”
If Jackson ends up suing — a tort claim is a necessary precursor — this would be the fifth lawsuit against the city in less than two years. So far, Caldwell’s insurer has paid out more than $2 million to settle various claims, all of which alleged wrongdoing by the chief. If Ingram also sues, the number of lawsuits hits six.
Jackson announced her resignation last month on her LinkedIn page, saying that her more than three years with the city was “one of the most rewarding experiences” of her career. She also announced that she’d be joining Idaho News 6 (KIVI-TV) as its assistant news director.
“One of the greatest privileges has been working closely with the Caldwell Police Department and Chief Rex Ingram,” she wrote in her post. “Watching the commitment, professionalism, and heart that CPD brings to this community every single day has been incredibly fulfilling.”
As a part of her complaint, Jackson said she’s asking for the financial equivalent of her lost retirement benefit, since she lost out on her full PERSI benefits when she resigned. She’s also asking for compensation for the “severe emotional distress and the damage to my standing within the public safety and communications fields,” which she said was caused by the mayor’s public alignment with those involved in the harassment, according to the claim.
Ex-Caldwell city spokesperson claims hostile work environment, harassment
Jackson and Ingram, in their claims, pointed to a leaked recording of the then-mayor-elect saying in November that he was going to “get rid” of the police chief once he took office. In the voice memo — which was accidentally sent to the wrong person and publicized by several news outlets — Phillips explained that he was going to look into all the allegations and then “fire his a** anyways,” according to the recording, which was published in its entirety by Idaho News 6.
Instead of publicly admitting to wanting to fire Ingram, Phillips said, he was going to “play chess, not checkers” and say he was making an “informed decision” about the chief’s employment to avoid a civil lawsuit. Jackson, in her claim, said those comments — along with the actions taken against her — “mirror a documented pattern of bad faith.”
In her case, the “chess moves” were clear, she alleged. In an attempt to destroy her professional relationship, the city published an email from Roger Brooks, who helped bring the Indian Creek Plaza and Luxe Reel Theatre to Caldwell, which had “unverified and inflammatory material,” she asserted. As of Wednesday, the email on the city’s website was redacted, removing any mention of Jackson.
Jackson also raised concerns about a comment that Phillips made in the leaked recording about getting “rid of (Ingram’s) cronies,” calling it an attempt to label “professional, reform-minded staff” as the chief’s cronies to justify a hostile working environment and “a political purge,” according to the claim.
