A federal appellate court rejected an appeal Tuesday by former West Valley City narcotics detective Shaun Cowley, who was fired after he shot and killed Danielle Willard during an investigation in 2012.
The ruling by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said West Valley City gave Cowley due process when it terminated him and that Cowley couldn’t show evidence that he was retaliated against for exposing misconduct in the narcotics unit. The Denver-based court also denied Cowley’s request for the city to pay his attorney fees.
Nov. 2, 2012, Cowley and his partner on the Neighborhood Narcotics Unit, Kevin Salmon, suspected Willard of buying drugs.