MONTGOMERY, Ala.
A former police chief in Alabama has taken legal action against city officials, claiming that a recent city report falsely harmed his reputation through accusations of excessive force and discriminatory practices among officers. Paul Prine filed a lawsuit this week against the mayor, a prosecutor, and other city leaders for slander and libel.
Multiple federal civil rights lawsuits are currently active against the Mobile Police Department, and a report released in April highlighted that Prine’s “autocratic demeanor” reportedly affected how officers engaged with the local community, particularly residents in the Black neighborhoods.
In his lawsuit, Prine described the report as a “witch hunt,” suggesting it was a retaliatory measure linked to grievances he had previously filed against the city’s public safety director and chief of staff earlier in 2023. He accused former federal prosecutor Kenyen Brown—who was appointed by city officials to conduct the investigation—of making “willful, false, malicious, defamatory and slanderous statements” about him.
The lawsuit names Mayor Sandy Stimpson and various city council members and administrators as defendants. Prine alleges that this group directed Brown to include derogatory claims against him in the investigation report.
Representatives for the city and the city council did not provide comments on the ongoing situation concerning the city officials named in the lawsuit. While Brown also refrained from discussing the litigation directly, he acknowledged via email his appreciation for the chance to conduct a comprehensive investigative report commissioned by the city.
The investigation into the Mobile Police Department was initiated by the mayor following four notable police-related fatalities and two reported incidents of excessive force within the year. During discussions with residents, investigators noted a “palpable fear” among citizens about potential encounters with MPD officers due to concerns of being unjustly harmed.
On Monday, the mother of a 16-year-old boy, Randall Adjessom, who was fatally shot by SWAT officers during a no-knock raid, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and law enforcement. Similarly, the family of Jawan Dallas, who died after being subdued and tased by police in July 2023, initiated a $36 million wrongful death lawsuit in December 2023. Consequently, grand juries have chosen not to indict any officers involved in the investigated fatalities.
Prior to the publication of the report, Prine was placed on administrative leave and subsequently terminated on April 30, shortly after the report’s release, concluding nearly thirty years in law enforcement. The lawsuit states that before Prine’s dismissal, a city attorney proposed that he retire with benefits if he would publicly announce his retirement using an approved statement from the mayor, which Prine rejected.
Prine later commented in an interview that the investigation was entangled in “veiled threats and a power struggle” with leadership figures, although he did not go into detail.
The complaint claims that Brown misrepresented Prine’s interview to imply a lack of understanding regarding departmental disciplinary policies, referencing an audio recording of their discussion. Additionally, Prine’s lawsuit contends that the scope of the investigation expanded beyond its original focus on six violent incidents involving police, instead targeting his leadership and intentionally aiming to tarnish his reputation.
Brown noted that the investigation revealed that officers were allegedly involved in constitutional violations, such as physically assaulting a handcuffed suspect, unlawfully detaining individuals, and attempting to unlawfully access the contents of individuals’ cell phones.
