Staff report
news@wbcowqel.com
A former police officer with the Village of New Washington has filed a federal law suit against the village and several officials including Police Chief Scott Roberston and former Crawford County Sheriff Ron Shawber. Benjamin Goff alleges in the suit and his letter to various area media outlets that he was terminated from his position as part-time police officer in the village for no justifiable reason.
Goff claims in his lawsuit his termination was in retaliation for his claims of criminal activity on the part of Robertson involving theft in office. Goff claims Robertson took cash collected for making copies of accident and police reports.
Goff says he tried to settle with the village prior to filing the suit but was unsuccessful in those efforts. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division and asks that the case be heard by a jury. Besides the village, Robertson and Shawber, the Goff suit also names as co-defendants current mayor Benjamin Lash, Carolina Kaple, Gertrude Durnwald, Paul Forster, Geraldine Lucius, Joseph Blum, Scott Hiler and Brian Agin.
Goff’s suit also alleges that Robertson “began a campaign of retaliation and an onslaught of defamatory comments and negative situations” after Goff “uncovered a plethora of corrupt activity and criminal misconduct attributable to Defendant, Scott Robertson.”
The suit seeks damages for claims that Goff’s constitutional rights under the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and fourteenth amendments were violated.
Goff says in his suit that Robertson not only stole money while in office but that he was never qualified to hold the position. He further alleges that village council had no authority to request an investigation by then Sheriff Ron Shawber when allegations against Goff were brought to council by then mayor Thomas Niedermier.
Goff’s suit is asking for damages, including attorney fees, in the amount of $102,000.