A new lawsuit against Woodstock police chief Clayton Keefe and town supervisor Bill McKenna alleges discrimination against a former police officer for not providing accommodations for him after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Officer Anthony Schleuderer began working for the town police department in November 2011. In March 2023, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. According to the lawsuit filed August 22 in Ulster County Supreme Court, he immediately notified Keefe and McKenna.
“Due to his condition, Plaintiff began experiencing difficulties with certain job functions, including firearms qualification,” the lawsuit said. “Despite these challenges, Plaintiff was otherwise capable of performing the essential functions of his job.”
Schleuderer filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but the agency did not respond within the allotted time, giving him the opportunity to file the lawsuit.
Schleuderer’s request for reassignment to a role that did not require firearms qualification was denied, and he alleges he was fired on January 5, 2024.
“Defendants denied Plaintiff’s request for accommodation, insisting that Plaintiff could not remain employed as a police officer unless he passed the firearms qualification, despite his demonstrated ability to perform other duties,” the suit alleged. “On multiple occasions, Plaintiff discussed his condition and potential accommodations with Defendants, including the possibility of transitioning into a civilian role such as a dispatcher. These requests were ignored or outright denied by Defendants.”
Schleuderer alleges the town and department told him to exhaust his personal leave and informed him he would need to step down or face termination.
He further alleges his employer subverted New York Civil Service Law by appointing two part-time employees to perform the work of a full-time dispatcher.
The lawsuit charges the defendants violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and state Human Rights Law by not providing a reasonable accommodation.
Schleuderer also alleged he was fired because of his disability, in violation of the Civil Rights Act and United States Code.
Schleuderer seeks, among other relief, reinstatement to his position or payment, an injunction directing the town and chief to provide reasonable accommodation for his disability, lost wages and punitive damages.
Supervisor Bill McKenna said he couldn’t comment on the specifics of the lawsuit, but noted Schleuderer is still on the roster as a town employee. He is not being paid. McKenna said he was offered a part-time dispatcher job but refused the position. Full-time employment as a dispatcher is only available to those active on the civil service list and Schleuderer hadn’t taken the required exam.
Schleuderer is represented by attorney John DeGasperis of Basch & Keegan in Kingston.
This is the latest in a series of lawsuits to plague the police department and town.
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