LEWISTON – Earlier than being chosen as Lewiston’s Chief of Police, Jason Kuzik sought the identical job in one other Idaho metropolis. In a current declare, Kuzik alleges he did not get that job attributable to his age. In February, Kuzik filed a declare with the Metropolis of Caldwell alleging discrimination and in search of a cost of $272,515. Large Nation Information obtained the declare by means of a public data request.
Earlier than in search of a brand new place in Idaho, Kuzik was a 25-year legislation enforcement veteran with the Henderson Police Division in Nevada.
When the Metropolis of Caldwell, Idaho was within the course of of choosing a brand new Police Chief, Kuzik was reportedly Mayor Jarom Wagoner’s first selection. Wagoner had even introduced to his metropolis’s police division that Kuzik was chosen for the job, says the declare. However when the Metropolis Council was making the ultimate resolution, Councilor Chuck Stadick commented “Kuzik is getting close to retirement” and that town may once more quickly have to seek for a police chief. Stadick’s feedback allegedly swayed different council members to not proceed with the movement to rent Kuzik. The council finally named former Los Angeles Police Officer, Rex Ingram, to the submit – who was roughly 15 years youthful than 52-year-old Kuzik. Ingram was additionally much less skilled.
In response to the declare, Kuzik was managing a workers of 72 as a Captain earlier than he concluded his 25-years on the Henderson Police Division. Ingram had 17 years of expertise with the Los Angeles Police Division when he sought out the Caldwell job.
The declare cites the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, which prohibits discrimination in opposition to folks over 40 attributable to their age.
Kuzik was provided the job as Lewiston’s police chief in July of 2022 and was sworn-in October 4, 2022. His annual wage in Lewiston is $122,800. The declare says the Lewiston job represented a big lower in pay and that he had already misplaced $65,037, and continues to lose $41,496 per yr – when in comparison with what the identical place would have paid within the bigger metropolis of Cladwell.
Kuzik says he’ll launch the declare in change for a cost of $272,515. In response to the declare, the quantity is to get better his monetary losses up to now, plus 5 years of estimated future misplaced wages and advantages.