Former Anniston officer appeals dismissal

An Anniston police officer who was fired last month over his membership in an alleged hate group has appealed to the city's civil service board.  Lt. Josh Doggrell, identified in a post by the Southern Poverty Law Center's Hatewatch blog as a member of the League of the South, was fired June 19.  Another officer, Lt. Wayne Brown, also identified in the blog, decided to retire to avoid "adverse publicity" and "creating a distraction" for the police department. Doggrell filed his appeal June 25, There has been no date set yet for a hearing.  The SPLC identified the League of the South as "neo-confederate," and posted a video of remarks Doggrell made about the group and his job as a law enforcement officer.  Doggrell had been investigated in 2009 regarding his association with the organization. City Manager Brian Johnson at the time of Doggrell's firing said there was no evidence that any of Doggrell's activity with the organization had affected his police work. He said Doggrell's personnel file had been "without blemish."