Police Club files lawsuit against Town of Amherst, supervisor
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Supervisor Satish Mohan's refusal to hire three police officers for the Town of Amherst's Police Department has led to lawsuit.

Detective Edward Guzdek Jr., president of the Amherst Police Club, filed a petition against Mohan and the Town of Amherst on Aug. 7.

"They have 20 days to send in a response to the court and us, answering what the petition says we are alleging," Guzdek said.

"We are stating that by him not hiring the officers his actions are beyond his scope, and his actions are illegal."

An attorney, funded by the Police Club, has been hired, and Guzdek is listed as the plaintiff in the case, which will be heard by State Supreme Court judge in Erie County.

"We filed the lawsuit because we had no choice. The fact is (Mohan) would not hire those three officers and now we are down two more, and he doesn't want to hire those," Guzdek said. "We have got to get this resolved one way or other or we'll be down 10 officers in no time."

He added that the three officers in question were not rehires but budgeted replacements in the 2006 budget.

Town attorney Tom Jones, who will represent the town and the supervisor, said once he is officially notified of the claim, he must then prepare a response.

"The petition is seeking to force (the supervisor) to do an act," Jones said.

The police academy for the new class of officers began on Aug. 7 without cadets for Amherst.

e-mail: jfinch@beenews.com