Dive Brief:

• A federal lawsuit alleges that a police office in Lower Saucon Township, PA lost his job due to his stance on the proposed expansion of a landfill battle. 
• Officer Thomas Louder and his wife, Donna, are against the expansion of the IESI Bethlehem landfill and allegedly disagreed with Louder's boss, police chief Guy Lesser at a Planning Committee meeting. The suit alleges that Lesser violated the Louders' free speech rights through intimidation tactics such as issuing false disciplinary actions and removing Louder’s rank and seniority on the force.
• The lawsuit carries with it a request for an injunction that would thwart future violations of the Louders’ rights, in addition to restoring pay and benefits that were withheld, allegedly in order to punish the officer for disagreement. 

Dive Insight:

The landfill’s plan to expand has divided the community. Allegedly, Lesser spoke out against the expansion project until representatives from the landfill negotiated to compensate the police chief for his residential property, which sits on the buffer zone of the proposed expansion. According to the suit, once Lesser inked the deal, Louder was “reprimanded” for his opposition of the project at a public meeting and threatened with termination.