Westmoreland County to pay $85,000 to settle discrimination suit against sheriff
Westmoreland County commissioners unanimously approved a $85,000 payout to settle yet another lawsuit involving the county’s embattled sheriff Jonathan Held last week.
The federal discrimination lawsuit was filed by part-time Deputy Jonathon Sutton in March 2018. Other than the amount paid, no other information about the lawsuit was disclosed by commissioners, who referred questions to county solicitor Melissa Guiddy, who would not comment further other than to confirm the suit was settled.
In past cases of approving lawsuit settlements, all three commissioners have voiced their frustration over using taxpayer funds to settle lawsuits involving the sheriff.
A Marine Corps military policeman and reservist, Sutton claimed he was passed over for promotions due to his military service commitments. A sergeant with the military police in the 4th Law Enforcement Battalion at MP Company B in North Versailles, Sutton said he was hired as a deputy in 2015 and passed over promotions to full-time status and leadership posts beginning in 2016.
Sutton claimed that Held’s office had a bias against hiring military reservists full time because they “take too much time off.” At the time it was filed, Held disputed the claim, saying his grandfather was a World War II veteran and several active military personnel and veterans are employed in the office.
The suit alleged Sutton was denied promotions, while Held promoted 12 other staffers, including a secretary, to full-time deputy positions. None of those 12 were active reservists of currently military members, according to the suit.
Including this payment, the county has paid out more than $450,000 in settlements to resolve 12 suits filed against the sheriff’s department since Held took office in 2012, including several racial discrimination suits.