Saturday, June 02, 2012

Nazareth police officer sued over conduct as police chief in Forty Fort, Pa.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2012/06/forty_fort_police_chief_accuse.html FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES A Nazareth police officer who also serves as police chief in Forty Fort, Luzerne County, is accused of violating the First Amendment rights of a Forty Fort police officer by preventing him from speaking to the mayor. In a lawsuit filed Thursday, officer Peter Lakkis claims Forty Fort police Chief Fred Lahovski insisted the only way Lakkis was allowed to communicate with Forty Fort Mayor Boyd Hoats was if he filed a written request first. The same restriction was placed on communication with borough council members, according to the suit. When, in May, Lakkis filed a written request asking to speak with the mayor about the Memorial Day parade, the request was denied, according to the suit. In the suit, Lakkis’ attorney goes on to claim Lakkis was forced “to complete illegal tasks,” including the posting of fliers on utility poles for missing eyeglasses in violation of Forty Fort code, which imposes a $1,000 fine for posting signs on telephone polls, the suit says.

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