Round Lake Heights police chief denies firing cop for refusing advances
Round Lake Heights Police Chief John Roehlk and the village have formally denied claims made in a federal lawsuit alleging he fired a cop last summer for refusing his repeated sexual advances.
In part, documents filed in U.S. District Court by attorney Dominick L. Lanzito state Roehlk dismissed officer Hossein “Sam” Isbitan on Aug. 12, 2014, only because he was not “fitting in” at the Round Lake Heights department.
A status hearing in the cases is set for Friday, March 13.
Isbitan, 31, was not subjected to “persistent romantic and sexual overtures” by Roehlk, according to the court papers filed as a formal answer to the suit. Documents also say Roehlk is a government official who performs discretionary functions and is entitled to qualified immunity.
Roehlk and the village were hit by Isbitan's lawsuit on Dec. 30, 2014. Isbitan seeks unspecified monetary damages for sexual discrimination, workplace harassment, wrongful termination and other allegations.
Among the claims denied by Roehlk are that he told Isbitan he was “looking sexy” and “hot” shortly after the officer was hired in November 2013. Roehlk also denied rubbing Isbitan's back and shoulders in the presence of others at a holiday party at the Round Lake Heights police station in late December 2013.
While Roehlk admits texting Isbitan, Lanzito wrote in the court papers filed last month, the chief and village “deny that the messages as alleged are set forth in the proper context” in the ex-cop's suit.
Text messages from Roehlk that are part of the suit described Isbitan as a “stud,” “stud muffin” and “rock star.” On one occasion, Roehlk sent a photo of a heart-shaped piece of pink candy with a message emblazoned: “I (expletive) LOVE YOU.”
Another time, court documents state, Roehlk sent the following text to Isbitan when warmer temperatures arrived: “60 tomorrow ... Shirtless weather 4 U.”
Roehlk denies he became hostile, moody and rude to Isbitan in April and May 2014, according to court filings. The chief also refutes the claim his “inappropriate and bizarre behavior” was reported by Isbitan to Round Lake Heights police Sgt. Scott Crawford.
Isbitan is a former Lake County sheriff's courtroom deputy and remains unemployed. Roehlk, in court documents, denies the firing has anything to do with Isbitan's inability to find law-enforcement work.
Roehlk and the village are asking the court to issue a favorable judgment on all counts and to award them all attorneys' fees and other compensation deemed necessary.
Lanzito declined to comment on the case Wednesday. Isbitan attorney Thomas P. Needham could be reached for comment.