By Gus Burns | fburns@mlive.com
SAGINAW — Joseph J. Dervisi, 38, of Midland is suing the city of Saginaw, claiming the Saginaw Police Department discriminated against him because of his age.
Saginaw Police Chief Gerald H. Cliff and Sgt. Anjanette”A.J.” Tuer visited Dervisi at the the Delta College Police Academy on the day of his final exam and terminated him on Dec. 11, 2009.
Victor J. Mastromarco Jr. who is representing Dervisi, filed the $25,000-plus lawsuit on Jan. 24, 2011 in Saginaw County Circuit Court.
Sponsored by the Saginaw Police Department, the complaint says Dervisi started the 17-week police academy on Aug. 24, 2009.
Dervisi, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1992 to 1996, was the “oldest recruit at the academy” and told that he would be “held to a higher standard because of his age and experience,” the lawsuit says.
The city’s response says Dervisi disrupted academy classes and displayed a “lack of effort or inability to properly conduct himself,” even after “repeatedly” being counseled.
Academy logs show either staff or Saginaw police employees counseled Dervisi about his “negative attitude” four times prior to his termination.
There is no court date set for the next hearing in this case.
Dervisis claims his rights under Michigan Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act were violated.
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