EAST ST. LOUIS — A former deputy is suing Randolph County, Illinois and the county's sheriff, Shannon Wolff, citing alleged retaliation and violation of civil rights.
Kenneth M. Kempfer Jr. filed a complaint on May 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against the defendants, alleging that they retaliated against the plaintiff due to his political affiliation.
Wolff was elected as a Democrat.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that, after the November 2014 election, he was forced to resign after he was told that the sheriff allegedly would no longer renew his commission. The plaintiff holds Randolph County and Wolff responsible because Wolff allegedly informed the plaintiff that his commission would no longer be renewed after Wolff won the election for sheriff.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory damages, reimbursement of costs and expenditures, equitable relief ordering the defendant to renew plaintiff's commission and to allow him to resume is post, and any further relief as this court deems appropriate. He is represented by Clay B. St. Clair and Anthony P. Gilbreth of Crowder & Scoggins, Ltd. in Columbia.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:16-cv-00574