In a suit under 42 U.S.C. section 1983 for retaliatory discharge in violation of the First Amendment, brought by a plaintiff who was fired for comments he made as a candidate for town council that were critical of his employer, the Saltville Police Department, and its Police Chief, the District Court's denial of qualified immunity for defendant is reversed where the Chief is entitled to qualified immunity because it was debatable at the time of plaintiff's dismissal that his speech interests as a citizen outweighed his interests as a public employer.