(Columbia County Spotlight) — In response to the former St. Helens police chief’s lawsuit against her, Mayor Jennifer Massey maintains that her actions constitute free speech.

The mayor’s lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit against her by Joe Hogue, the city’s former chief of police, under a state law designed to prevent frivolous lawsuits that seek to deter individuals from exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech. The law protects speech that arises out of legislative or judicial proceedings, public forums, reporting by members of the press and more.

Hogue filed a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit against Massey and the city of St. Helens in March. The lawsuit alleges Massey tried to block Hogue’s promotion to chief of police because Hogue reported Police Chief Brian Greenway for misconduct.

Greenway headed the police department until he was placed on administrative leave in October. Hogue stepped into the role as chief of police on an interim basis until Greenway resigned from the position in January following a lengthy report detailing Greenway’s alleged misdeeds during his tenure.

In his lawsuit, Hogue further alleged that Massey colluded with Greenway to withhold 24/7 police coverage from the city in order to bolster her mayoral campaign.

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