Part-time Westmoreland County Sheriff’s deputy sues over county not promoting reservist
A part-time sheriff’s deputy in Westmoreland County is suing the county and the sheriff, alleging he was passed over for full-time positions because he is an active reservist in the military.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Wednesday by Attorney Alec B. Wright on behalf of Jonathon Sutton. It names Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held.
Sutton is currently a Military Police Office with the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and is certified in various areas of military policing.
He became a part-time deputy with the sheriff’s office in July 2015 and applied for a full-time position in June 2016, but a secretarial staff member with no prior experience was promoted, the suit contended.
“Since June 2016, Deputy Sutton applied at least 10 additional times for promotion to a full-time position in the sheriff’s office,” Wright stated in the lawsuit, alleging that all promotions or new hires were given to individuals who were not active reservists or current service members less qualified as Sutton.
In an official statement, Held said his office does not discriminate against anyone for any reason. “This claim is especially atrocious because my grandfather was a World War II veteran,” Held said.
He indicated his office employs over 10 active military personnel and veterans.
“The facts of this case will come out, and in the end, it will prove to be just another piece to a political witch hunt,” said Held, himself facing criminal charges for allegedly using staff members to do campaign related activities during county work hours.
Sutton is seeking compensatory and punitive damages along with legal fees.