HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — Ronald Fusco, a former Hubbard Township police chief, claims he was unfairly fired and mistreated because of his disabilities and for reporting threats made by a township trustee, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

The case will be heard by Judge Sarah Thomas Koovor as Fusco is suing Hubbard Township, the Hubbard Township Board of Trustees, and trustees William Colletta and Jason Tedrow. He is requesting reinstatement to his job, at least $50,000 in damages for his losses and emotional distress, and a jury trial.

Colletta declined to comment on the lawsuit, stating he plans to speak to his attorneys Monday. “But pretty much it sounds like the same information that he put out for the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) charges that he tried to file and they were rejected. So we’ll just go through the process and follow what the attorneys say.”

Fusco, represented by attorneys Patricia Brandt and Sam B. Robb from Spitz (The Employee’s Law Firm), alleges that the township, Colletta and Tedrow violated Ohio laws by discriminating against him based on his disabilities, failing to accommodate his conditions and retaliating against him for his complaint.

The lawsuit states that Fusco was discriminated against because of his arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, sciatica and bilateral knee replacements, which substantially impair his ability to walk, stand or work. He also claims he was punished for reporting threats made by Colletta and the township refused to allow him to return to a lighter-duty role after his surgeries.

The lawsuit further alleges that Colletta and Tedrow conspired to alter his job duties in a way that made it impossible for him to return, leading to his unfair termination.

Fusco, a Campbell resident, served Hubbard Township as a police officer from 2000 to 2012, sergeant from 2012 to 2017, captain from 2017 to 2020, assistant chief from 2020 to 2022, and police chief from 2022 to 2024. The lawsuit notes, “Fusco’s condition substantially impaired one or more of his major life activities, including working.”

On Nov. 22, 2023, Fusco reported to the Board of Trustees that Colletta had threatened to end the careers of police officers if they resigned. The lawsuit quotes, “Colletta threatened to end the police officers’ law enforcement careers if they choose to resign from the township.”

Fusco believed these threats constituted a crime under Ohio law, which prohibits intimidation of public servants like police officers. The lawsuit alleges that former trustees Frederick Hanley and Rick Hernandez witnessed these threats.

Fusco filed a complaint with the EEOC, which issued him a right to sue letter.

Following knee surgeries on Feb. 26 and May 23, 2024, Fusco claims Colletta attempted to cancel his health insurance as punishment for his complaint and because of his disabilities. Hernandez reportedly warned Fusco that Colletta’s attempt was improper. Fusco requested to return to work on light duty, but Colletta and the township denied that any such duty was available. The lawsuit accuses Colletta and Tedrow of shifting the police chief’s role from primarily office-based to more physically demanding, preventing Fusco’s return. It also states that Tedrow harbored resentment toward Fusco because Fusco participated in an investigation where Tedrow was a suspect.

On Dec. 10, 2024, Colletta and Tedrow voted not to retain Fusco as police chief or restore him to his previous assistant chief position, which the lawsuit claims violates Ohio law requiring that a removed police chief be returned to their prior rank. Hernandez abstained from that vote.

Colletta emailed Fusco about his termination on Dec. 20, 2024.

Additionally, Fusco alleges that Colletta blocked him from purchasing his duty weapon for $1, a traditional benefit for retiring Ohio police chiefs — despite approval from township lawyer Mark Esposito. The lawsuit states this is proof of further mistreatment by Colletta.