A former police lieutenant has filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and violation of civil rights after a botched drug test led to his dismissal. Wesley Lachney filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on November 18, 2025, against the City of Marksville and several city officials, including Mayor John Lemoine.
According to the complaint, Lachney was subjected to a random drug test on November 1, 2024, which was administered by City Manager Rondell Jones. The test was conducted in an unprofessional manner that violated standard protocols, leading to a public announcement that Lachney’s sample tested positive for five narcotics. The plaintiff alleges that this breach of confidentiality and improper handling of the specimen resulted in his suspension without pay and eventual termination on November 18, 2024. Lachney contends that these actions were retaliatory measures due to his efforts to form a union within the police department—a move reportedly not favored by city officials.
The lawsuit details numerous procedural failings during the drug testing process. For instance, it claims that two empty specimen containers were left unattended, raising concerns about potential tampering. Additionally, Chief of Police Elster Smith allegedly failed to provide proper chain-of-custody documentation or adhere to HIPAA regulations. Despite Lachney’s request for an independent drug test being denied by Smith, he independently obtained a negative result from NCompliance laboratory in Marksville.
Lachney argues that his termination violated multiple constitutional amendments and state laws. He asserts First Amendment retaliation for union activities and violations of procedural due process under the Fourteenth Amendment due to falsified evidence and lack of fair hearing procedures. Moreover, he claims Fourth Amendment breaches concerning unreasonable search and privacy invasion through improper administration and disclosure of drug test results.
In addition to seeking reinstatement with full benefits and back pay from November 1, 2024, Lachney is pursuing compensatory damages for emotional distress and reputational harm caused by wrongful termination. He also seeks punitive damages against defendants for their deliberate indifference towards protecting his due process rights.
The legal proceedings are spearheaded by attorney Janice Montague-Myles representing Wesley Lachney while no specific law firms have been identified for defense representation yet. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:25-cv-01808 with no judge names disclosed at this time.
Source: 125cv01808_Wesley_Lachney_v_City_of_Marksville_Complaint_Western_District_of_Louisiana_.pdf
