Alabama police lieutenant appeals firing for link to group that wants South to secede

ANNISTON, Ala. – Alabama officials say a police lieutenant who was fired over ties to a neo-Confederate group is appealing.

Anniston Civil Service Board Secretary Heather Stephens told Al.com Monday (http://bit.ly/1UVYT0K) that Josh Doggrell appealed on June 25.

The Southern Poverty Law Center published an article in mid-June saying Doggrell and former Lt. Wayne Brown were both members of the League of the South.

The organization advocates a second secession by states of the old Confederacy. While the League describes itself as a Southern nationalist organization, the Southern Poverty Law Center calls it a hate group. Brown retired after the article was published.

City Manager Brian Johnson says Doggrell was investigated in 2009, but there was no evidence that his association with the group affected his work.