The Myrtle Beach Police Department had hired Michael Dodd in September 2016. Dodd succeeded as a patrolman, and the police force promoted him to Patrolman First Class a year later.
Dodd had back surgery in October of 2018, for which he had taken leave from the department. After returning, Dodd was injured by a violent suspect he was apprehending in December 2018.
Dodd notified the police department in writing of his injury, and had to take more than five months of time away from his job to recover.
In March of 2020, Dodd had an altercation with a fellow officer. He had, in jest, handed another officer an NYPD training booklet, as a way of suggesting that this other officer needed more training.
This other officer hit Dodd in the face with the training booklet. Dodd responded by pushing the officer, who fell onto a table.
After the altercation, the police department put Dodd on administrative duty, but did not discipline the other officer.
Dodd had a meeting with the Command Staff, who recommended that he be suspended. Despite that recommendation, the police chief and the Myrtle Beach city manager decided to fire Dodd.
Dodd is claiming that the reason for his firing above and beyond the suspension suggested by the Command Staff – was his earlier workers’ comp claim. Dodd’s lawsuit accuses the City of Myrtle Beach of retaliating for her earlier time recuperating from his on-the-job injury.
After his firing, it took Dodd more than seven months to find a new job, and when he did find one, the new job paid significantly less.
His suit is trying to get damages from the city to cover the wages he was not paid in those seven months, as well as the benefits he lost. The damages include future lost wages and benefits as well.