Shaun Seger
LANCASTER — A Lancaster police officer who was briefly suspended from his job has sued city officials for allegedly violating his civil rights.
Shaun Seger filed a lawsuit Monday in Garrard Circuit Court. In the lawsuit, Seger names former police chief Allen Weston, Mayor Brenda Powers, City Council members Bret Baierlein, Chris Davis and Jesse Wagoner and former council members Brandon McGlone, Maggie Mick and Mike Sutton as defendants.
According to the suit, Seger called Sgt. Rick Shearer on Dec. 12, 2011, regarding an argument with Seger’s teenage stepdaughter. Because the teen alleged Seger physically assaulted her, Shearer contacted two other Lancaster police officers and two Garrard County deputy sheriffs to assist in investigating the domestic dispute. Seger ultimately was arrested on a charge of fourth-degree assault in an instance of domestic violence with minor injuries.
Officers seized Seger’s police equipment, and Weston suspended Seger without pay. Seger was reinstated to his position on Dec. 29, 2011, after a Garrard District Court judge dismissed the charge against him. Seger was reimbursed for the days of work he missed while suspended, the lawsuit acknowledges.
Seger alleges Weston violated his right to due process under the U.S. Constitution and Kentucky Revised Statutes 15.520 or the Police Officers’ Bill of Rights. Weston also prematurely released information about Seger and his employment history to the news media and caused Seger extreme mental distress, according to the lawsuit. The resulting “embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish and loss of self-esteem” should thus lead to financial compensation, the lawsuit states.
Seger’s attorney, Ed Dove of Lexington, was out of his office Friday and unavailable for comment. As of Saturday afternoon, City Attorney Beth Wesley had not returned a call seeking comment.
A court date has not been set for Seger’s suit.
