Former Correction Officer Continues Battle with Sheriff's Department

James Greco has been tied up in litigation with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department since he was terminated from his correction officer post at the in 2008.

Greco, 58, and a Manorville resident, suffered neck and back injuries in 2007 when he was assaulted by an inmate. After visiting company doctors, it was determined that he would be placed on light duty. Greco says that the post he was then assigned to was a full duty position.

“My doctor and the union agreed that it was crazy to put me in that position,” Greco said. “I had no problem coming back to work, but I needed to come back light duty.”

After Greco refused, he was suspended twice and then was ultimately terminated after working for 18 years at the facility.

Greco was also charged with worker’s compensation fraud, which he claims resulted in his wrongful termination. After two years of litigation, those charges were deemed erroneous.

“The judge that heard my case thought it was ridiculous and that there was absolutely no evidence, so she threw out the case,” Greco said. “It was two years of pure hell. Ultimately, the decision by the judge was that I did nothing improper, and she found me not guilty of all charges.”

After that was settled, Greco grieved the termination, and he was able to win that battle as well, as he is now going to receive back pay since the time he was relieved of duty – which is a sum of approximately $250,000.

Since he got his job back “on paper,” Greco retired, although he says the Sheriff’s Department refuses to give him his retired ID, which entitles him to carry his weapon in all 50 states. Greco owns a security company in Center Moriches, so having his weapon is vital for business, he added.

“There’s not much I can tell you because we’re in current litigation with this former employee on a number of issues,” Elizabeth Loconsolo, the general council for the Sheriff’s Department, told Patch.

“I was found not guilty,” Greco added. “I retired and I worked 18 years for this.”

Do you think the Sheriff’s Department should give Greco his retired ID? Tell us in the comments.