Paula Reed Ward Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Copyright 2006 P.G. Publishing Co.
The Wilkinsburg police chief filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday against the borough mayor.
Police Chief Michele Krempasky, who took over as chief in 2004, accuses Mayor John Thompson of harassment and creating a hostile work environment. In the lawsuit, she claims he suspended her for a week without pay in April for what she calls “totally bogus reasons.”
Mr. Thompson would not speak about the lawsuit or what prompted the chief’s suspension last month.
“I’m going to reserve my comments until I seek legal counsel,” he said.
Chief Krempasky, a 13-year veteran of the department, says in the lawsuit that she learned of her suspension in a letter from Mr. Thompson, in which he lists alleged instances of insubordination.
“Thompson is on a vendetta to destroy Krempasky’s career for arbitrary and capricious reasons,” the lawsuit says.
Chief Krempasky’s allegations against the mayor date to when he was a borough councilman and she was a lieutenant in the police department. At the time, she said she was having problems with former Police Chief Richard Dwyer.
She accused Chief Dwyer of becoming hostile with her immediately upon his becoming police chief in October 2002.
In March 2005, Chief Krempasky filed a lawsuit against Chief Dwyer and the borough alleging sexual discrimination. She says that after that, Mr. Thompson, who was friends with Chief Dwyer, began to retaliate against her.
"[Mr. Thompson] has since taken steps to ruin Krempasky’s career in return for her having sued Dwyer,” the lawsuit contends.
The case against Chief Dwyer, who was forced to resign as Wilkinsburg chief, is scheduled to go to trial before U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Hardiman in late summer.
In the lawsuit against Mr. Thompson, Chief Krempasky claims she has been denied her right to due process, equal protection and her rights under the First Amendment. She is seeking unspecified money damages.
Paula Reed Ward can be reached at pward@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2620.
May 16, 2006