Police Sgt. James Corcoran
4 August 2012. Police Sgt. James Corcoran, who said he was forced into retirement in retaliation for reporting corruption in Bell, wins $400,000 and has been reinstated to the force. He will receive $240 thousand in lost wages and $ 160,000 in attorney’s fees. According to a memo that City Atorney Dave Aleshire wrote to City Council members, Retired U.S. District Judge Dickran Tevrizian, who served as mediator, said Bell could have lost more than $3 million if the case had gone to trial. Corcoran said he took the deal because he wanted to go back to work. It was a matter of professional pride for him. Corcoran said then-Police Chief Randy Adams was angered when Corcoran went to him with allegations of voter fraud, unlawful vehicle seizures and illegal selling of building permits. Adams was ousted as chief after The Times revealed the enormous salaries that top officials in the city were earning. Eight former leaders were ultimately arrested on corruption-related charges. Adams was not among the eight.
