Two fired Folsom Police officers are suing to regain their former jobs.

Carl Siegler and Brian Unden were terminated in March for allegedly having inappropriate contact with college girls during an undercover operation in Chico.

Details of the circumstances surrounding Siegler and Unden’s firing have not been made public.

The two were reportedly working with the Folsom Police Department’s Special Enforcement and Neighborhood Enhancement Team that focuses on specific problems or patterns of criminal activity that cannot be adequately handled by a traditional patrol response, according to the department’s Web site. The detectives normally work in plain clothes’ and drive unmarked vehicles while on duty.

Officials have said that the police department has no record that Unden and Siegler were requested to participate or were participating in an investigation with the Chico Police Department or the Butte County Sheriff’s Department.

Sean Howell, the former officer’s Sacramento attorney, said during a phone interview that both officers “deny the underlying allegations as well as any allegation of dishonesty.”

Howell said he could not address the initial investigation that led to his clients’ dismissal.

Sigler and Unden claim in the civil lawsuit that their right to due process under the Government Code and the Police Officers Bill of Rights was violated during the internal investigation.

“The lawsuit is an enforcement of the due process right that are afforded police officers under Government Code 3300,” Howell said. “They are afforded certain rights when they are the subject of an interrogation. This lawsuit is to enforce those rights.”

The suit is asking that some of their testimony be removed from their administrative appeal.

The Folsom Police Department reports that a copy of the filing on behalf of the former officers has been received.

“The claim/lawsuit has been turned over to the city attorney for evaluation and response,” said Sgt. Rick Hillmen of the Folsom Police Department in a prepared statement. “Since this is pending litigation, we are unable to comment on the specifics of the claim (or) lawsuit.”

Penne Usher can be reached at penne.usher@gmail.com.