EBENSBURG – A civil criticism in opposition to a candidate for Cambria County sheriff was filed on Monday afternoon at Cambria County Courthouse.
The criticism lists Tom Owens, the Stonycreek Township Board of Commissioners and the Cambria County Board of Elections as defendants. Owens, a Stonycreek Township police officer and deputy sheriff, is searching for the Democratic nomination for sheriff within the Might 18 main election.
The criticism was submitted Monday on behalf of the listed plaintiff, John A. DeBartola, of Johnstown, by Jesse D. Daniel, Esq., of the Daniel Regulation Group of Indiana Borough.
The criticism alleges that Owens “engaged in improper conduct in violation of relevant legislation by being a candidate for election to the place of Cambria County Sheriff whereas concurrently being employed by Stonycreek Township as a police officer.”
Stonycreek Township’s standing as a first-class township implies that its police power is topic to the protections and proscriptions of the Civil Service Act.
The criticism additional states that one of many legislatively mandated causes for removing underneath the legislation relevant to first-class townships is that if the police officer “engages or participates within the conduct of a political or election marketing campaign for an incompatible workplace,” whereas noting that the language seems within the township’s civil service guidelines as grounds for disciplinary motion.
DeBartola’s go well with is searching for a compulsory injunction directing the Board of Elections to to take away Owens’ identify from the poll for the first election or for the township to terminate Owens’ employment as a police officer, given that he’s engaged in campaigning and electioneering conduct.
The defendants have 20 days to take motion upon receiving discover.
Owens advised The Tribune-Democrat that he had not acquired official discover of the criticism as of Monday afternoon, and he declined to remark.
A name for remark was made to the Stonycreek Township Municipal Constructing and a message was left with a member of the workplace employees, however was not instantly returned.
Daniel didn’t return a voicemail message left on Monday afternoon.
Shawn Curtis is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He may be reached at (814) 532-5085. Comply with him on Twitter @ShawnCurtis430.
