But after her child was born in September 2013, Puckett alleges she “was either hung up on or her calls were not returned each time, and she was never sworn in.”
The suit said similarly situated male applicants were hired and sworn in during the same time frame, and that Puckett called numerous times, sent an email to Anna Mayor Robert Anderson and appeared at a village council meeting.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, full back pay, past, present and future wages and benefits, court costs, attorney fees and compensatory and punitive damages totalling $500,000.
Messages seeking comments from Evans, Anderson, township officials or Anna solicitor Aaron Lowe were not returned Wednesday. Puckett’s attorney, Francis Landry, also did not return a message.
The complaint alleges Puckett was hired, issued patches, informed about uniforms, filled out a W-4, sent to take a pre-employment drug test, and “completed all steps necessary to be sworn in as a patrolman.”
Puckett informed Evans of her pregnancy the day before she was to be sworn in and Evans said she’d be sworn in after delivery in September 2013, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is the latest in a string of issues for Evans — the village’s only full-time officer — and Anna’s police department, which includes five part-time/auxiliary officers.
- In January 2013, Evans was given an extra six months to relocate his residence from near Piqua into Anna or resign.
- In early August 2013, Evans was placed on a 10-day administrative leave due to "lack of confidence" in his "professionalism," according to a letter to Evans from Anderson, who said the time would allow for legal advice and investigation.
- In late August 2013, Evans was placed on 60 days of unpaid leave after a 5-1 village council vote. "You have failed to conduct your official duties, your loyalty to the village is in question, and as police chief, you have failed to adequately follow through on certain tasks such as required state reporting, equipment maintenance, and your response time has been inadequate," Anderson said.
- In 2013, the village council considered disbanding the police department and entering into a contract with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
- A 2013 Sidney Daily News report referenced council member Richard Eshleman talking about psychiatric reports ordered by Minster police and Sidney Municipal Court that questioned Evans' fitness to be a public safety employee when he was employed at those places. Eshleman told the newspaper that the reports revealed "basically the problems we're having with him."
- Police officer Lynn Marsee, who served as acting chief when Evans was on leave, resigned when Evans returned and cited concerns about threats or retaliation, according to the Sidney newspaper.
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