Deputy Sues Placer County Sheriff's Department

AUBURN (CBS13) - He's an Army sergeant and a Placer County sheriff's deputy, but he says the time he spent serving our country held him back in his career.

The deputy works at the Placer County Jail. He says he loves his law enforcement agency and also says he loves serving his country. But he's confused and says he can't understand why he's not getting the same love and respect as a veteran.

Attorney B.J. Pierce represents Deputy Kevin Brady. Brady has worked for the Placer County Sheriff's Department since 2007. He's also an Army reservist who was activated to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

After an 18-month tour he returned to the sheriff's department.

"Deputy Brady has stood in line with everyone else," Pierce said. "All he's asking is not be penalized for being called to duty to the U.S. military."

Piecre says under federal law veterans have a right to return to civilian employment without losing their seniority. She says Brady was not only penalized but returned to a hostile work environment.

The lawsuit says one of his supervisors told him "If [Brady] wanted to play Army, he should just go be Army" rather than expecting to maintain his civilian career with the sheriff's department.

Brady says they're keeping him out this patrol car. The deputy says wants to work in patrol on the street and not in the jail. However, the sheriff is saying he has to do his time.

"He was told he had to repeat a second year in the jail and also do a third year in the jail," Pierce said.

Being stuck in the jail means no opportunity for promotion or specialized assignments.

Residents want answers.

"He's doing he's thing, he should be promoted like that," one said.

"Really, they should take that into consideration," another said.

But the sheriff's office fired back with a statement to CBS13 stating "the sheriff's office strongly disputes any allegation that active military employees, including Deputy Brady, are penalized in any way for their service."

Deputy Brady is still working at the jail. The deputy says he's not looking for monetary damages. He says he's just looking out for the future of other veterans.

Brady's attorney said the case will likely take months to resolve in federal court.