A D.C. police captain who was demoted after he publicly contradicted Chief Cathy Lanier's statements about police escorts for celebrities has filed a whistleblower lawsuit.
Hilton Burton is suing the city, Lanier and two assistant police chiefs. He is seeking millions in compensatory and punitive damages.
In April 2011, the Metropolitan Police Department performed a police escort for Charlie Sheen from Dulles International Airport into the District. At a D.C. Council meeting two months later, Burton, then commander of the Special Operations Division, testified that the division he oversees routinely escorts sports teams and celebrities -- conflicting with a statement made by Lanier, according to the lawsuit.
In August 2011, Burton was demoted from commander to captain. Lanier said in a statement at the time that the reassignment was "based on a review of command decisions, including several critical incidents."
