Another deputy suing DuPage County sheriff

A longtime DuPage County sheriff's deputy has filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was denied a transfer because he pushed for collective bargaining rights and refused to donate money to Sheriff John Zaruba's political campaign fund.

Deputy Peter Coolidge filed the lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Zaruba, Chief Al Angus and DuPage County are named as defendants.

The suit alleges that retaliation against Coolidge "continues to this day."

"The substantial investment made by the taxpayers of DuPage County into the professional development of this loyal law enforcement officer continues to be wasted," the lawsuit says.

The sheriff's office didn't respond to requests for comment.

Officials with the state's attorney's office, which represents county offices in civil cases, on Monday said they haven't had an opportunity to review the lawsuit. They said they hadn't been served the lawsuit papers.

The complaint comes nearly four months after seven sheriff's deputies filed a nearly identical federal lawsuit against Zaruba.

Meanwhile, officials in October announced that DuPage reached an $800,000 settlement with Susan Lakics, a sheriff's employee who sued in 2009 alleging she was passed over for a promotion because of sexual discrimination and a political beef between Zaruba and her husband, a former mayor of West Chicago.

According to the most recent lawsuit, Coolidge sought to be transferred from the corrections bureau to the patrol division in 2012. But Zaruba and Angus "intentionally skipped" the 17-year veteran's request, the suit alleges

The five-count lawsuit claims Zaruba and Angus infringed upon Coolidge's right to freedom of association by punishing him for his "multiyear efforts to advance the collective bargaining rights" of DuPage sheriff's deputies. Coolidge was involved in attempts to organize the corrections bureau.

The lawsuit also alleges Zaruba and Angus punished Coolidge for his unwillingness to contribute money to Zaruba's political campaign fund. Coolidge hasn't made a campaign donation to Zaruba in the past four years.

"The defendants' treatment of deputy Coolidge is humiliating to him given his extensive training, experience and expertise, and a waste of taxpayers' investment in his professional development," the lawsuit states.

Coolidge is requesting a jury trial. He is seeking unspecified monetary damages and payment of his attorneys' fees.