Former Mount Vernon Police Chief Alleges Racially Targeted Ticketing, Retaliatory Firing

Mt. Vernon, Ala. (BuzzReport) — A former Mount Vernon police chief has filed a federal lawsuit accusing town leadership of pressuring him to issue traffic tickets based on race and then firing him in retaliation for raising concerns about pay, allegations the town strongly denies.

Eric Pettway, who served as Mount Vernon’s police chief for nearly a year and a half, claims in a civil complaint that Mayor Eric Peoples directed him to “write traffic tickets, especially to white workers who do not live in the town,” as a means of generating revenue. The allegation appears deep within the filing but carries significant implications for the small town of fewer than 1,400 residents.

Pettway, who is Black, was dismissed from his position on Nov. 19, 2025. He filed the lawsuit the following day.

Mayor Peoples declined to comment, telling NBC 15 News he was advised by the town’s attorney, Jay Ross, not to speak publicly because the matter is pending litigation. Requests for comment from Ross were not returned. In its formal response filed in federal court, the town categorically denies Pettway’s claims and demands proof.

Pettway’s attorney, Thomas Loper, acknowledged that no exhibits were filed with the complaint to substantiate the racial profiling allegation. He told NBC 15 News the case is still in its early stages and evidence is being gathered.

The lawsuit centers primarily on alleged labor violations. Pettway accuses the town of violating the Fair Labor Standards Act, claiming he routinely worked 20 to 25 hours of overtime every two-week pay period without compensation. According to the complaint, Pettway earned an annual salary of $64,000 but was required to juggle administrative duties with regular patrol work to meet staffing demands.

Pettway is seeking $50,545 in unpaid overtime and an equal amount in damages. He contends his termination was retaliation for complaining about the lack of overtime pay.

Highway 43, a major corridor that runs through Mount Vernon, is heavily traveled by workers commuting to and from two steel plants located about five miles north of town. Pettway’s lawsuit suggests this traffic made enforcement a potential revenue source for the municipality.

The only exhibits included with the complaint are Pettway’s employment contract and a memo from the mayor instructing him to use nearly 190 hours of accrued compensatory time, described in the document as an “excessive amount.”

A federal judge has ordered both parties to meet in person by March 11 to attempt a settlement and to report back to the court with a status update by March 18.

Pettway served as police chief from May 29, 2024, until his firing in November 2025. Loper confirmed that a separate state-court lawsuit over severance pay has already been settled.