Help me out, please!!!!
I was in the Omaha Police Department training academy in Omaha, Nebraska until February 4, 2002. The academy began on November 26, 2001. Nearly 8 weeks into the academy, it was discovered by the media and police personnel that the new recruits (including me) and those since 1996 had not completed a medical exam by a doctor as required by state law. In an effort to cover the mistake, OPD sent my recruit class to a doctor 10 weeks into the 21 week academy.
The doctor they sent me to thought I may have a problem with my heart after completing an EKG since I had a couple of prior fainting episodes. He sent me to a cardiologist, who then coducted a stress test, echocardiogram, and made me wear a heart monitor. The first two tests went very well, but the cardiologist thought I had an electrical problem with my heart and that I needed a pacemaker (I am only 28 yrs. old) after reviewing the heart monitor results. He referred me to an electrocardiologist who actually does these type of surgeries. This doctor told me everything is fine and that I am healthy; that the other two doctors overreacted. Prior to OPD receiving the final doctor's report that I was fine, the department terminated my employment. I have since had two other doctors, an internist and a cardiologist, indicate there is nothing wrong with me and there is no reason to avoid participating in police work. I have gone to the media, two news stations and the Omaha World Herald newspaper (you can see the article at Omaha.com; the article is located in the Midlands section on February 9, 2002; need to start by clicking on the archives section). I have filed complaints with the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission based on a medical discrimination. In addition, I have also notified CALEA since OPD is nationally accredited at this time, but OPD has violated some of CALEA's standards. I have also discovered the department has violated the American Disability Act by allowing some recruits to obtain medical exams while waiving the exam for others. The Nebraska State Statute has been violated by not requiring every police recruit to pass a medical exam prior to entering a law enforcement training academy. The ACLU is not interested in the complaint, but I do have a friend that is a state senator that is trying to help out. I have also notified my city councilman. I am wondering if there are any other avenues you may be aware of for me to take since I am not getting too far on my own. If you know of anything else I can do or any other agencies that should be notified or anyone else that might be able to help, please email me!!
The problem I have is that the police department terminated my employment after seeing the second doctor, and prior to receiving the electrocardiologist's report. It has been 4 weeks now and even my attorney cannot get a formal explanation as to why I was terminated. I already know there were no other problems in the academy up to the point of termination.
Please let me know and thanks for your help ahead of time.
I was in the Omaha Police Department training academy in Omaha, Nebraska until February 4, 2002. The academy began on November 26, 2001. Nearly 8 weeks into the academy, it was discovered by the media and police personnel that the new recruits (including me) and those since 1996 had not completed a medical exam by a doctor as required by state law. In an effort to cover the mistake, OPD sent my recruit class to a doctor 10 weeks into the 21 week academy.
The doctor they sent me to thought I may have a problem with my heart after completing an EKG since I had a couple of prior fainting episodes. He sent me to a cardiologist, who then coducted a stress test, echocardiogram, and made me wear a heart monitor. The first two tests went very well, but the cardiologist thought I had an electrical problem with my heart and that I needed a pacemaker (I am only 28 yrs. old) after reviewing the heart monitor results. He referred me to an electrocardiologist who actually does these type of surgeries. This doctor told me everything is fine and that I am healthy; that the other two doctors overreacted. Prior to OPD receiving the final doctor's report that I was fine, the department terminated my employment. I have since had two other doctors, an internist and a cardiologist, indicate there is nothing wrong with me and there is no reason to avoid participating in police work. I have gone to the media, two news stations and the Omaha World Herald newspaper (you can see the article at Omaha.com; the article is located in the Midlands section on February 9, 2002; need to start by clicking on the archives section). I have filed complaints with the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission based on a medical discrimination. In addition, I have also notified CALEA since OPD is nationally accredited at this time, but OPD has violated some of CALEA's standards. I have also discovered the department has violated the American Disability Act by allowing some recruits to obtain medical exams while waiving the exam for others. The Nebraska State Statute has been violated by not requiring every police recruit to pass a medical exam prior to entering a law enforcement training academy. The ACLU is not interested in the complaint, but I do have a friend that is a state senator that is trying to help out. I have also notified my city councilman. I am wondering if there are any other avenues you may be aware of for me to take since I am not getting too far on my own. If you know of anything else I can do or any other agencies that should be notified or anyone else that might be able to help, please email me!!
The problem I have is that the police department terminated my employment after seeing the second doctor, and prior to receiving the electrocardiologist's report. It has been 4 weeks now and even my attorney cannot get a formal explanation as to why I was terminated. I already know there were no other problems in the academy up to the point of termination.
Please let me know and thanks for your help ahead of time.
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