Timberlake Police Chief Susan Scofield has filed a civil suit against the village in care of Mayor John Marra, citing discrimination of sex, religion and age and also claiming retaliation. Scofield, who was 68 when the complaint was filed in Lake County Common Pleas Court through her counsel, was hired by the village in February 2011 and promoted to chief in February 2021. In the complaint, she claims to be “currently employed but under constructive termination by the defendant because she is too old.” The complaint also claims the mayor and his wife objected to Scofield being divorced and also advised her to eat a plant-based diet so to not lose her figure so she could work long hours. The complaint also claims the mayor criticized Scofield’s choice of boyfriend more than five times in the fall of 2022, stating “you are the chief of police, you can do better than him.” There is also an accusation that when Scofield was hospitalized, the mayor and his wife came to her room to pray for her which the chief objected to and has faced retaliation. She also claims she has not being given vacation or sick-leave benefits. Attorney Donald Gallick released the following statement to The News-Herald on behalf of Scofield: “After the discovery process is complete, people will see that the elected mayor and his elected councilwoman wife have spent more time asking Chief Scofield about her dating life, telling her what to eat and trying to enter her hospital room for a religious experience. We hope this lawsuit re-affirms the separation of government and dating, government and diet, and church and state. “Government needs to get back to the basics. Chief Scofield is the first woman chief of police in the history of Timberlake and she would like the mayor and his wife to focus on serving the residents and helping to fix the hostile work environment to reduce police staffing issues.” John Marra defended his actions and the village and denies the allegations listed in the complaint. “The safety of the Village of Timberlake’s citizens and members of its police force are of the upmost importance to Village Council and this lawsuit will not compromise these values,” the mayor stated in a statement to The News-Herald. “The Village denies the allegations that it has discriminated or retaliated against Chief Scofield. Furthermore, the Village is disappointed that Chief Scofield did not allow either the Ohio Civil Rights Commission or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission agencies created to investigate and enforce anti-discrimination laws, from investigating her claims. “Nonetheless, the Village is confident that the legal process will show that the Village acted appropriately. There will be no further comment while the case is pending.” The suit seeks a trial by jury and a judgment for the plaintiff for compensatory and punitive damages.