A judge is mulling whether a veteran Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter/paramedic was rightfully fired in 2023 on allegations he posted compromising photos of a woman on pornographic websites and vandalized her vehicle.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Curtis Kin heard opposing arguments regarding the petition filed by terminated LAFD employee Marcus Portis, who is seeking reinstatement as a member of the fire department after being let go in 2023 on the revenge porn and vandalism allegations. The judge did not immediately rule and took the issues under submission.
Portis maintains the allegations were barred by the statute of limitations and that the complaint containing charges was not verified by the fire chief. Portis also contends that the LAFD’s actions were “excessive, unwarranted and unlawful,” according to the petition brought last May 22, which also seeks back pay and benefits and a sealing of the disciplinary records separate from his regular personnel file.
But in their court papers, lawyers for the City Attorney’s Office say Portis, now 45, was criminally prosecuted for the alleged revenge porn actions against the woman, who is identified by name in the complaint, but not by her relationship to the fired firefighter.
In addition to allegedly vandalizing the woman’s car, Portis was accused of slashing the tires of vehicles belonging to former relatives, according to the City Attorney’s Office pleadings, which additionally state that all of the actions occurred in 2020.
“Following a finding of guilt on all three charges by the members of the Board of Rights, (Portis’) employment with the city was terminated effective March 7, 2023, which is the date he was first relieved from duty,” the City Attorney’s Office lawyers further state.
Then-LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas filed the charges against Portis well within the statutory period and after the Professional Standards Division commander verified the complaint under oath against Portis, and the fire chief confirmed the complaint with his signature and timely transmittal to the board, establishing his verification by oath, according to the City Attorney’s Office.
“There is no language in the (City) Charter section prohibiting the fire chief from initially delegating this authority,” the lawyers from the City Attorney’s Office further argue in their court papers.