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The *Riverside Brookfield Landmark* recently published a story detailing a legal battle between four local firefighters and the village of Riverside. The firefighters, who were previously disciplined for their conduct during an incident at a North Riverside tavern in December 2013, have now filed a lawsuit against the village and Fire Chief Spencer Kimura. They are seeking financial compensation, claiming they were unfairly targeted due to their support for Kimura’s former predecessor, Fire Chief Kevin Mulligan.
Lieutenant Thomas Bensfield, Lieutenant William Ruska, Lieutenant Ray Williamson, and firefighter A.J. Ruska filed the initial lawsuit in April with the Cook County Circuit Court. They asked the court to overturn the disciplinary actions taken against them and to compensate them for lost wages following the off-duty incident on December 14, 2013. In June, the case was amended, and it was later moved to U.S. District Court. The updated filing alleged that Kimura's actions violated their First Amendment rights, specifically citing retaliation based on their association with the former fire chief.
The amended lawsuit not only seeks to reverse the disciplinary measures but also requests compensatory damages, attorney fees, court costs, and exemplary damages. In March and April of this year, Kimura suspended the three lieutenants for three days each and placed A.J. Ruska on a 21-day suspension, along with a "last chance" warning.
According to the lawsuit, A.J. Ruska was disciplined for violating the department’s code of conduct, which cited “behavior unbecoming a Riverside firefighter.†The lieutenants, meanwhile, faced consequences for failing to discipline a subordinate. That individual, identified as firefighter Michael Rerucha, is not part of the lawsuit.
As reported by North Riverside police, Rerucha got into a physical altercation with an off-duty Cicero police officer during the incident, allegedly punching him in the head. However, the officer declined to press charges. While the details of the incident remain unclear, the firefighters argue that their punishment was unjust and politically motivated. The case continues to unfold in court, raising important questions about workplace fairness and free speech within public service roles.