Judge dismisses ex-WVSP superintendent’s lawsuit against state, Dept. of Homeland Security

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WOWK) – A former West Virginia State Police superintendent’s lawsuit against the State of West Virginia and the WV Department of Homeland Security has been dismissed, according to Kanawha County Circuit Judge Richard Lindsay’s office.

The civil lawsuit was filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court on Monday, April 7. It claimed former WVSP Superintendent Jan L. Cahill was suing on the grounds of constructive discharge and whistleblower retaliation.

Judge Lindsay’s office did not give further information as to why the lawsuit was dismissed.

In the lawsuit, Cahill claimed that the then-Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety (DMAPS) and then-Governor’s Chief of Staff made his working conditions “intolerable” and accused them of using his questioning of COVID-related expenses and refusal to assist an unwarranted Fusion Center expansion as motivation to get him removed from his position.

Cahill resigned from his position as WVSP superintendent in March 2023. Jack Chambers was named interim superintendent following the resignation and was then named as Cahill’s official replacement later that year.

Just over a week before his resignation, Cahill sat down with WOWK 13 News Anchor Amanda Barren for an exclusive interview regarding a five-page anonymous letter that surfaced regarding allegations of widespread misconduct within the top ranks of the West Virginia State Police. You can still watch that exclusive interview here.