2008 Woodie Awards
UP officer suing his bosses, state police
Ryan Hutchins
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: News
Originally published: 9/20/07 at 6:49 PM EST
Last update: 9/20/07 at 11:40 PM EST
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Darren Barcomb, a Plattsburgh State University Police officer plagued by legal and disciplinary troubles, filed a federal lawsuit in late August against his bosses and two State Police employees, alleging they made him the victim of a "campaign of constant harassment."
The lawsuit claims that UP chief Arlene Sabo orchestrated a series of "malicious" and "reprehensible" attacks on Barcomb to rid herself of the officer, who the suit names as a union leader.
Sabo did that, the suit alleges, with the help of assistant chief Jerry Lottie, Vice President for Student Affairs William Laundry, Director of Human Resources Lawrence Mills and State University of New York Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Police Roger Johnson. Two State Police employees, Sgt. Mary Dupall and Trooper Shawn P. Murphy, are defendants as well.
Barcomb, who has worked with the department since 1999, has been suspended since July 2005, according to a school document sent to Cardinal Points by his attorney, Robert Keach of Amsterdam.
None of the defendants named in the suit would comment to Cardinal Points, most citing legal concern or an inability to discuss personnel matters.
"The problem is that we're given legal council that we can't comment," Sabo said Thursday.
Barcomb's attorney, Robert Keach of Amsterdam, told the newspaper Wednesday that only Johnson has been served, but Sabo said everyone that works at the school had been served with the suit.
The complaint alleges that Sabo had Barcomb falsely arrested twice, "filed scores of baseless disciplinary charges against him, filed baseless administrative charges regarding workers compensation payments, wrongfully suspended him, twice without pay, and had him prosecuted for "impersonating" a police officer when he is, in fact, a police officer."
According to the suit, Barbomb's troubles started in June 2005 when his former girlfriend filed a menacing complaint against him in Suffolk County, Long Island. The charges were later dismissed, the suit says.
The lawsuit claims that UP chief Arlene Sabo orchestrated a series of "malicious" and "reprehensible" attacks on Barcomb to rid herself of the officer, who the suit names as a union leader.
Sabo did that, the suit alleges, with the help of assistant chief Jerry Lottie, Vice President for Student Affairs William Laundry, Director of Human Resources Lawrence Mills and State University of New York Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Police Roger Johnson. Two State Police employees, Sgt. Mary Dupall and Trooper Shawn P. Murphy, are defendants as well.
Barcomb, who has worked with the department since 1999, has been suspended since July 2005, according to a school document sent to Cardinal Points by his attorney, Robert Keach of Amsterdam.
None of the defendants named in the suit would comment to Cardinal Points, most citing legal concern or an inability to discuss personnel matters.
"The problem is that we're given legal council that we can't comment," Sabo said Thursday.
Barcomb's attorney, Robert Keach of Amsterdam, told the newspaper Wednesday that only Johnson has been served, but Sabo said everyone that works at the school had been served with the suit.
The complaint alleges that Sabo had Barcomb falsely arrested twice, "filed scores of baseless disciplinary charges against him, filed baseless administrative charges regarding workers compensation payments, wrongfully suspended him, twice without pay, and had him prosecuted for "impersonating" a police officer when he is, in fact, a police officer."
According to the suit, Barbomb's troubles started in June 2005 when his former girlfriend filed a menacing complaint against him in Suffolk County, Long Island. The charges were later dismissed, the suit says.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
James
posted 9/28/07 @ 7:05 AM EST
I hope The Adminstration at Plattsburgh responsibile for this injustice are suspended with out pay for over six months like they did to Officer Barcomb twice. (Continued…)
Bob
posted 10/15/07 @ 10:37 PM EST
I agree. It is a shame when administrators use their positions to ruin someone's life. I hope SUNY and the NY Attorney General are looking closely at this situation. (Continued…)
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