A former Port Arthur Police officer has filed suit against the police department, alleging he was forced to resign and he is accusing the chief of defamation.

Kennard Law out of Houston is representing the officer, Kristopher Boneau.

The plaintiff’s original petition tells that Boneau had worked with PAPD for 18 years, commanded several units within the PAPD and was at the rank of sergeant and in October 2016 he was transferred to the internal affairs department.

The document further states that on Feb. 17 Boneau was informed that Det. Elie Van Horn had prepared a packet for the district attorney’s office accusing four officers, including Boneau, of numerous violations and illegal acts.

Boneau contends he immediately went to Police Chief Patrick Melvin to ask if he was being investigated to which Melvin reportedly said he did not have that information but would look into it.

“Mr. Boneau was already leery of Chief Melvin’s questionable leadership ability because of hostile work environment that he was working in under Chief Melvin’s leadership,” the document stated. “Specifically, Mr. Boneau was told by Chief Melvin, in the presence of his partner Det. Hershel Whiting, to pass over the white applicants who applied for the police force regardless of test scores and to hire ‘people of color.’”

Boneau alleged that Melvin ordered him to ignore protocol and essentially discriminate against non-minority applicants.

Then, on Feb. 20, Boneau learned he was placed on administrative leave and that he had been accused of inadequately investigating an internal affairs complaint and participated in filing a false complaint on a former PAPD employee.

After the disciplinary action, a press release was issued and a councilmember identified the names of the officers placed on leave to the Beaumont Enterprise and the Houston Chronicle, according to the document.

The court document contends that Boneau lost profits from his business due to the allegations against him.

The case was filed in Jefferson County on Nov. 3.

Boneau now works in another city.