ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Two Allentown officers’ lawsuit alleging widespread criminal activity by their colleagues will not see its day in Lehigh County Court after they withdrew their claims last month.
But Dennis Charles, who is representing officers Randy Fey and David Howells III, told LehighValleyNews.com on Wednesday that he plans to refile the suit in federal court.
Fey and Howells in July filed a 47-page whistleblower lawsuit that alleges officers within the Vice and Intelligence Unit committed numerous crimes, including theft and prostitution.
The officers say they were removed from that unit after repeatedly trying to report other officers to their supervisors. Howells also alleges he was demoted to patrolman, which is the lowest rank in the Allentown Police Department.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission now is investigating the officers’ claims of retaliation by Allentown police officials. They must wait for that process to “run its administrative course” before suing the department in federal court.Dennis Charles, attorney for officers Randy Fey and David Howells
The suit names 17 Allentown police officials, including Chief Charles Roca and former Chiefs Glenn Granitz, Glen Dorney and Keith Morris; five assistant chiefs and six captains.
Lehigh County Judge Zachary Cohen dismissed the suit in October.
But Charles asked the courts to reconsider, arguing the case was dismissed over a missing signature and not its merits.
Lawyers for the Allentown Police Department and the officers suing it were due in court on New Year’s Eve for a hearing to determine whether Cohen’s dismissal would be upheld.
That hearing is moot after Charles signed legal paperwork in November to end the Lehigh County case.
Charles said he and his clients always planned to pursue their whistleblower claims in federal court but hoped to attach the Lehigh County case in support of that suit.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission now is investigating the officers’ claims of retaliation by Allentown police officials, Charles said, adding he must wait for that process to “run its administrative course” before suing the department in federal court.
Alleged theft laid out in lawsuit
The officers’ lawsuit details an alleged theft five years ago that was at the center of charges last month against a former Allentown Vice officer.
Jason Michael Krasley, 47, of Upper Milford Township, faces charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, and a misdemeanor count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
Authorities allege he stole $5,500 while Vice officers were searching a Hamilton Street barbershop in May 2019.
Allentown police knew the money was missing the day it was stolen, and officers cooperated with the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office in 2019. But no charges were filed for more than five years.
