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James Joles resigned as a Ridgely police officer in January 2024, about two months before the now-defunct agency was suspended last year. Joles said in an interview Wednesday that he had “nothing to do� with the town’s decision to suspend and later lay off his former colleagues.

Ridgely Police Department officers and employees were laid off by the town effective July 1, 2024, a move that came as the Office of the State Prosecutor actively investigated Police Chief Jeff Eckrich for “suspected� perjury and misconduct stemming from documentation provided by Joles.

Later that July, that investigation found “no sufficient evidence� of criminal activity.

Eckrich, six former officers and a former civilian employee filed a lawsuit on Aug. 13 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. They claim, among other allegations, that Caroline County Sheriff Donnie Baker “orchestrated a coup� — with assistance from Joles and town officials — to disband the police department.

Listed as defendants are Baker, Deputy Chief Rodney Helmer, current Commissioners John Hurley and John Buckle, former Commissioner Anthony Casey, three town employees, Joles, the Town of Ridgely and the State of Maryland.

Baker declined to comment, citing legal advice. An attorney for the Town of Ridgely did not respond to questions, citing the pending litigation. Others could not be reached for comment.

The lawsuit specifically alleges that “sometime prior to February 23, 2024, Joles met with Baker and the two devised a plan that would eliminate the RPD and allow the Sheriff’s Office to assume responsibility� for police services in Ridgely.

Joles told Â鶹´«Ã½ that he and Baker only met once, when they exchanged greetings in December 2023.

“I’ve met him once at a Christmas party,� Joles said. “I might’ve had maybe a four-word conversation. That’s how short it was.�

TIME IN RIDGELY

Joles said upon joining the Ridgely Police Department at the rank of corporal in the spring of 2023, he was in charge of reviewing the department’s body-worn camera footage and tracking firearms and ammunition. He documented issues in the two areas, he said.

Weapons and firearms were not properly stored and secured, he said. And after reviewing body-worn camera videos, Joles said Eckrich responded to calls with “no police identification, carrying a firearm.�

“No badge, and he’s responding to calls,� Joles said. “It rose concern. And I tried bringing it up to him, and it didn’t go anywhere. It kinda just got pushed to the wayside.�

In January 2024, after a disagreement about a time-off request, Joles said Eckrich “threatened� to fire him if he didn’t resign. Joles said the chief told him he wasn’t a “good fit.�

The lawsuit filed last month, however, claims Ridgely commissioners voted to fire Joles “without consulting Eckrich.� Joles resigned before he was fired.

An attorney for Eckrich and other plaintiffs did not immediately respond Wednesday afternoon to a question about the nature of Joles’ potential termination and whether Eckrich was aware of it.

Joles presented his documentation of police misconduct to town officials at a closed session meeting on March 11, 2024, according to the state prosecutor’s report.

Joles, who has since left the law enforcement field and lives in Delaware, said town officials asked him to share his documentation of conduct by Eckrich and the police department during an exit interview process following his resignation.

“They asked me some questions, I answered all of them, and they were more concerned about me suing them,� Joles said.

The lawsuit against Joles claims he made false allegations that Eckrich “knowingly withheld disclosing that Joles was on a Brady list in Delaware� when he was hired. A Brady list contains records of alleged officer misconduct or complaints.

Plaintiffs claim Joles didn’t disclose the Brady list matter during an interview for the Ridgely job. Joles said he did discuss the matter in the interview, according to texts from after his resignation included in court records.

LAWSUIT

The lawsuit levied by Eckrich and his former colleagues includes 13 counts, claiming the defendants violated due process and the 14th Amendment, committed civil conspiracy and committed defamation.

One count claims the Ridgely commissioners wrongfully discharged the police officers and civilian employee.

The commissioners initially suspended Eckrich and the department with pay in March 2024, pending the state prosecutor’s investigation. At the time, the town didn’t indicate reason for the investigation nor did it clarify that only Eckrich was under investigation.

Eckrich’s lawsuit terms the alleged “coup� as a “power grab� by Baker to “expand his office’s jurisdiction� by taking over for the defunct Ridgely police.

On April 1, 2024, the town entered into a temporary contract with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office for police coverage. According to documents in the federal lawsuit, Baker emailed town officials three days later with cost estimates “for the Sheriff’s Office to assume the Ridgely Police Department� full-time.

At a closed session meeting in April, the town laid off the dismissed officers and support staff, a move that took effect July 1, 2024. Ridgely commissioners have since entered into long-term contracts with the sheriff’s office for police coverage, most recently signing one this May.

In the lawsuit, plaintiffs are seeking economic damages for lost wages and benefits, among other items. They’re also asking the court to demand Ridgely reinstate its police department and employees.