More than three years ago, former police officer Michael Crenshaw filed several claims against the Southborough Police Department and town employees. Those claims were filed with the Inspector General, Attorney General, and the state Ethic’s Commission.
The Telegram & Gazette now reports that Crenshaw filed suit this month against the Town, former town administrator, and former police chief.
This comes a month after the Metrowest Daily News reported that current Town Administrator Mark Purple is being sued by a former member of the Ashland police.
T&G writes that Crenshaw is claiming wrongful termination “after he asked to be placed on injured-on-duty leave because of job-related stress caused by retaliation for complaints he filed while union president. ”
The suit was filed in Worcester Superior Court. No one involved would comment, but T&G related the accusations made in court documents.
Crenshaw details improper actions and unfair treatment by Sergeant Timothy Slatkavitz, the late Chief William Webber, former Police Chief Jane Moran and former Town Administrator Jean Kitchen over the course of several years.
The former officer claims that he took leave in July of 2011 based on diagnosed “stress, acute anxiety, and depression.” Crenshaw then sought injured-on-duty status.
According to the suit, Chief Moran tricked Crenshaw into seeing a town-designated doctor to evaluate claims:
Mr. Crenshaw, in his complaint, said he “had been purposely misled by the chief and the town” and the true intent of his exam was to have him declared unfit to perform his duties as as police officer in order to terminate his employment. He was fired March 5, 2012.
You can read the full article with all the ugly accusations here. T&G previously covered related charges by Crenshaw about the department’s evidence policy.
Coincidentally, our current Town Administrator is already dealing with a lawsuit filed against him by a former police sergeant.
Purple is one of 15 named in a lawsuit by Former sergeant Edward Pomponio and his wife. They are suing for harassment by employees of the Town of Ashland and its police department.
That is another whole ugly story covered by the Metrowest Daily News. Purple is caught up in it through his role as former interim Town Manager. You can read about that here.
