Any officer, employee or member of a board or commission of the city named as defendant in any civil lawsuit resulting from his or her actions in his or her course of employment for the city shall be furnished legal counsel by the City Council to defend the action and an officer, employee or member of a board or commission of the city shall be reimbursed for any judgment, paid by him or her as a result of the filing of a suit; provided however, if the Council determines that the officer, employee or member of a board or commission of the city was guilty of willful and deliberate misconduct or was guilty of violating any state or federal criminal laws, then the Council may deny the furnishing of legal counsel and may refuse to reimburse the officer, employee or member of a board or commission for any judgment rendered against him or her.
(1980 Code, § 13.120)