By KEITH GRANT
Lt. Thomas Sofield headed the LBPD's detective division for 10 years until a reassignment this past fall put him back in uniform. The reassignment, supporters and family members say, was payback from city higher-ups for the lieutenant's son's run for city council on a GOP slate. Thomas Sofield Jr., a registered Democrat, ran with two Republicans against the incumbent Democratic party machine, which won a tight election to maintain control of all five council seats.
Now, Sofield Jr. and his law partner Joseph Crafa have filed a notice of claim on behalf of the elder Sofield that they intend to sue the city over the reassignment. Charging that the reassignment amounted to a demotion, they will ask for the lieutenant's return to his former post, as well as $1 million in compensation and $5 in punitive damages.
In response, the city this week requested a Demand for Examination to be held May 29 at City Hall, where the charges will be explored in more detail, a city official said.
The reassignment was one of several made by then-incoming police commissioner John Laffey, who joined the department in 2000 after a three-decade career in the NYPD. In addition to reassigning Sofield, Laffey promoted Lt. Michael Tangney to Executive Officer, and placed Sgt. Gene Brown in charge of the traffic division. Sofield's move to the uniformed patrol division, which he now commands alongside three other lieutenants, was part of putting a new command team in place, Laffey stated. City officials said the action was no different than moves made by any new police commissioner in other municipalities.
However, Sofield's supporters say that is hardly the case.
They've taken away from him his rank, position and pay, Sofield Jr. said. He was a detective lieutenant and commanding officer of the detective division. Now he's a lieutenant, back in uniform and they've taken away $5,000 in pay. That's more than a reassignment in any book.
When you strip someone of rank, position and pay, he added, that's clearly a demotion.
Sofield Jr. pointed out that for the past 20 years his father has been a detective, detective sergeant and detective lieutenant. Continuously for over 20 years he has been a detective, he said.
However, the city's corporation counsel William Holst argued that the lieutenant has not been demoted. His civil service rank remains the same, Holst said. Our position is clear. Lt. Sofield has not been demoted.
Sofield and Crafa expect to file a Federal Civil Rights action, charging that the city retaliated against Lt. Sofield for exercising his first amendment rights to free speech and free association, according to Sofield Jr. They may also file a whistle blower claim. The attorneys allege that Sofield turned over to the District Attorney alleged evidence that a city employee had used city equipment to copy Democratic campaign material last fall, angering city leaders. Representatives for the D.A.'s office acknowledged after the election that they were looking into such charges.
Gene Cammarato, the city's director of operations and Democratic party leader and the target of much of the GOP's campaign literature has repeatedly denied any involvement in the transfer. Laffey has also denied that the reassignments were influenced by Cammarato, or made for any political reasons.
