NEWS: Stuttering Ohio officer alleges discrimination over dismissal

--Interesting--
Duke

Story at PoliceOne.com

The officer is suing the city and seven employees for more than $2.5 million on claims he was discriminated against

January 02, 2013
By Michael D. Pitman
Dayton Daily News

MONROE, Ohio — A Monroe police officer is suing the city and seven employees for more than $2.5 million on claims he was discriminated against because of his stuttering.

Officer Ken Parson is claiming verbal abuse by multiple supervisors, including being the subject of jokes, and one incident where he claims an officer threw a pen at the back of his head during roll call. The act, according to the lawsuit, received laughter by fellow officers and supervisors as opposed to discipline. Parson also claims to have been denied privileges afforded to other officers, including opportunities for overtime and peer recognition.

Parson filed the lawsuit earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati claiming the city violated the Americans with Disabilities and Family Medical Leave acts, said Parson's attorney John Scaccia. He said the city has not allowed him "to rise to his fullest ability."

"It's giving the guy an opportunity he should have had from the very beginning," Scaccia said of the lawsuit. "We shouldn't be discriminating against a person's imperfections."

R. Gary Winters, the attorney for the city of Monroe, denies the allegations and has until Feb. 13 to file the city's response to the complaint.

The seven-claim complaint names City Manager Bill Brock, police Chief Greg Homer, police Lt. Brian Curlis, police Lt. Frank Robinson, police officers Doug Liest and Alicia Beacock, and police Sgt. Dave Chasteen, along with the city of Monroe and "all other Jane or John Does" as defendants. The suit alleges that some or all of those named: discriminated against Parson's disability, invaded his privacy, caused emotional distress, created a hostile work environment, violated the Family Medical Leave Act, and/or retaliated against him when he "asserted his rights."

The suit demands the city pay wages, benefits, more than $500,000 in compensatory and more than $2 million exemplary damages, as well as be reinstated as a police officer and receive a promotion.

Monday was Parson's last day on the job before his Family Medical Leave Act time — which he took because his stuttering has deteriorated due to the alleged mistreatment — apparently expires, but Scaccia said the city could have afforded him additional time.