A Troy Police officer who claims he is the victim of retaliatory action for filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has been fired, according to his attorney.

Lt. Edward O. Hardy was placed on leave Dec. 12, 2012, pending an internal investigation. Hardy and his attorney, Julian McPhillips, attended what was to be the officer’s termination hearing on Jan. 23, but Troy Police Chief Jimmy Ennis said he would take into consideration information presented at the hearing and Hardy, instead, remained on administrative leave with pay at that time.

McPhillips said Thursday that his client is appealing the process and there is a meeting scheduled with Troy Mayor Jason A. Reeves at 9 a.m. on Feb 12.

“I think the whole thing is just a travesty,” McPhillips said.

According to paperwork provided by McPhillips, Hardy’s termination was based on a Dec. 8, 2012, incident that involved the supervision of a juvenile arrested while Hardy was in charge of a shift. The juvenile was left unattended in a room for about eight hours, but McPhillips said Hardy wasn’t the arresting officer and is not to blame.

Hardy believes it isn’t the incident with the juvenile that prompted his termination, but an EEOC complaint he filed in September 2012 citing racial discrimination.

In paperwork provided by McPhillips, Hardy said he feels he was passed over twice for a promotion to captain because of his race.

Regardless of the outcome of the Feb. 12 meeting with Troy’s mayor, McPhillips said he expects Hardy to receive a right to sue letter from the EEOC sometime in February, at which time Hardy can decide whether or not to pursue a discrimination lawsuit against the City of Troy and Troy Police Department.

Ennis was in a meeting Thursday afternoon and could not be reached for comment.