Pennslyvania -Policeman dismissed in 2009 sues city in federal court

OFF THE WIRE
Fired Reading police Officer Mark S. Groff has sued the city in federal court, claiming that what the city called illegal fraternization with the Pagans motorcycle club was really just negotiations that got the Pagans to stop beating up members of his club.

Groff is seeking to get back his job, more than $150,000 and punitive damages against Chief William M. Heim.

Heim said the suit contains only Groff's side of the case, but declined to comment further.

Backed by City Council, Heim fired Groff in June 2009 for repeatedly fraternizing with the Pagans while he was off-duty, violating a contract clause that bans police from associating with a felon or someone with a reputation for criminal behavior.

Groff also was accused of alcohol abuse and lying during the internal affairs probe.

Groff joined the police force in 2005 and in 2009 was receiving a salary of $59,096, which ended at the firing.

He filed a grievance to protest the firing, but an arbitrator ruled in the city's favor in March 2010.

In his suit filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, Groff said he was a member of the Leathernecks motorcycle club, consisting of honorably discharged Marine veterans.

He said Leathernecks officials asked him to meet with the Pagans because they had been assaulting Leathernecks. The assaults stopped, he said.

He said his police supervisors were aware of his efforts, but didn't warn him he was doing anything wrong.

After he was fired, he won jobless benefits when a state unemployment board ruled that any contact he had with the Pagans was incidental and didn't violate city policies.

Contact Don Spatz: 610-371-5027 or dspatz©readingeagle.com.

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