NEWBURGH – Former Newburgh
Police Lieutenant Peter Leach says the city has “assassinated”
his career and reputation by forcing him to retire and give up his severance
pay.
In an October 24 letter to top city officials, Leach and his wife, Dee, wrote that Leach was coerced into signing a settlement agreement with the city. “We declare any such agreement to be null and void and hereby demand that his medical benefits be restored and his severance monies immediately released to him,” they wrote.
The couple said they will “continue to prosecute his disability pension application” and hope the city will consider their appeal and “remedy a terrible injustice.”
They said failure to do so will lead to “protracted litigation and efforts to seek substantial monetary damages from the city, for fraud, slander, libel, character assassination, reimbursement for attorney’s fees and other damages and restitution for the detrimental ramifications that were brought upon our family as a result of the City of Newburgh City Manager’s inexcusable actions.”
Leach was injured in an auto accident and went out on disability with doctors telling him he could no longer return to law enforcement. While out of work, City Manager Michael Ciaravino alleged that Leach was working in his own tree removal business.
Leach, who said Sunday night that he sought the okay to return to police work, had brought his wood chipping equipment over to friends for them to use upon occasion. “I didn’t do anything out of the scope of my injuries,” he told MidHudsonNews.com.
“If he had two broken arms and I asked him to pick up a chair, he would do it,” said Mrs. Leach.
Leach was a member of the Newburgh force for 26 years with an impeccable record, his wife said. He resigned and signed away his pension under pressure of City Hall, he maintained.
The city council was split over the manager’s decision with opponents highly critical of the outcome of Leach’s employment.
