Didn't Metro police get caught in some lip service? Sure sounds like it.

VIDEO: Word On The Street (11/2/07)

Here's the unusual story.

Metro police Officer Clifford Mann had been on the force for 25 years and was making $56,000 a year.

Mann wore a small patch of hair under his lower lip, sometimes called a soul patch. Last year, Sergeant David Howard confronted Mann and told him his soul patch was against departmental policy.

Mann had worn the patch for three years without the rule being enforced. The officer claimed he had a doctor's report on file exempting him from shaving because of a skin condition.

That claim was not true. Mann refused to shave.

Captain Chris Taylor brought a dishonesty charge against Mann, and Mann was fired in April 2006.

Mann appealed and Robert Feldman was appointed administrative law judge to hear the case earlier this year.

After hearing some testimony, the judge said if Mann was to be fired, so should Taylor and Assistant Metro Attorney Rita Roberts Turner for their testimony.

The judge ruled the firing of Mann was not a fitting discipline. He reduced it to a three day suspension for dishonesty.

Mann is back at work, and Metro owes him for the 18 months he was fired.

Since Mann has received a raise while being fired, the city reportedly owes him $85,000. He has now sued Metro in federal court for firing him.

By the way, Clifford Mann is still wearing his soul patch.