Fired Cop Suing Des Plaines

A Des Plaines police officer fired for beating prisoners is suing the city alleging discrimination, the Daily Herald reported.

John Bueno has filed a federal lawsuit claiming racial discrimination by the city and harassment by former Deputy Chief Richard Rozkuszka, the newspaper reported.

The lawsuit is only the latest legal action involving Bueno, Rozkuszka and the city.

Bueno was fired in March for violating the city's use of force policy, failing to disclose use of force, and lying to internal investigators. However, an arbitrator ruled Bueno should have received a 15-month suspension and ordered he be reinstated by June 3.

The Journal and Topics reported that although there was evidence Bueno had beaten as many as three people, the arbitrator found that top management within the department at the time of the incidents did not take appropriate action in a timely manner, and therefore Bueno should not be fired.

The city is going to court to appeal the arbitrator's ruling. Bueno's reinstatement is on hold pending the appeal.

"We can all agree that there is no room on the Des Plaines Police Department for officers who physically abuse arrestees and lie under oath," read a statement released by the city after the arbitrator's ruling.

Rozkuszka also has sued the city, alleging that the department received reports from other Des Plaines police officers from 2009 to 2011 that Bueno "repeatedly engaged in violent and improper conduct while on duty, including beating incarcerated arrestees while in custody and in some circumstances while handcuffed."

Rozkuszka alleged in the lawsuit that he was forced to retire after he reported multiple instances of misconduct.

In a separate lawsuit, a DuPage man alleged that he was beaten in a parking garage by Bueno and another officer while being transported from the Elmhurst Police Department to the Des Plaines Police Department.

Before the federal discrimination lawsuit, Bueno had filed a discrimination claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that Rozkuska made disparaging comments about his Hispanic heritage.