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Leet police chief sues township over being placed on leave, claiming political retaliation

Dreamstime via TNS

Leet police chief sues township over being placed on leave, claiming political retaliation

The chief of police in Leet has sued the township, saying he was placed on administrative leave because he supported the political opponents of current commissioners.

Michael Molinaro, who had been promoted to chief in March 2021, filed the civil rights complaint in federal court on Wednesday on grounds of retaliation.

Mr. Molinaro said that after he became chief, he grew concerned over the conduct of Officer Nicklas Vigliotti.

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He said Mr. Vigliotti was making "aggressive, sexual and/or racial comments" to township employees and residents and also wasn't following procedures.

Mr. Molinaro reprimanded Mr. Vigliotti and in December 2021 terminated him as an officer.

The following month, Rody Nash and Daniel Peluso took office as commissioners after having won the election over Donna Adipietro and Bill Wanto.

Mr. Molinaro had supported Ms. Adipietro and Mr. Wanto and had signs in his yard saying so. He also had supported the opponents of Martin McDaniel, the board president, and the vice president, Carolyn Verszyla, in prior elections.

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Mr. Vigliotti in January submitted a complaint about his termination and in March the commissioners voted to reinstate him pending an investigation into his complaint.

At that meeting, Mr. Molinaro said he stated his opposition to Mr. Vigliotti being back on the force. According to the suit, his comments were omitted from the public record. 

Mr. Molinaro said the omission was deliberate in retaliation for his support of the board's political rivals.

On April 15, the commissioners put Mr. Molinaro on paid administrative leave pending the investigation into Mr. Vigliotti.

Mr. Vigliotti, he said, was not placed on leave and is working as a cop for the township.

"No rational basis exists for this difference in treatment," the suit says.

Mr. Vigliotti and the commissioners said Mr. Molinaro falsified documents by indicating that Mr. Vigliotti had a disciplinary record, according to the suit. Mr. Molinaro denies falsifying records and says in the suit that he had reprimanded Mr. Vigliotti for inappropriate behavior and insubordination.

Mr. Molinaro, who earned $83,000 a year as the chief, said he believes that he was placed on leave in retaliation for his political opposition to the new commissioners and for speaking out about Mr. Vigliotti.

He says he has suffered harm to his reputation and is asking the federal court to award him unspecified damages for the alleged rights violations.

First Published: June 15, 2022, 10:29 p.m.

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