Marine Reservist-Police Officer sues over military leave policy

Marine Reservist Sues Skokie P.D. For Discrimination
CBS Chicago
March 14, 2014

SKOKIE, Ill. (STMW) – A Marine reservist who earned the Purple Heart during a tour in Iraq filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against his employer in north suburban Skokie, saying he was retaliated against due to his military obligations.

Baldo Bello, who works as an officer with the Skokie Police Department, claims he was forced to use his paid days off to fulfill his duties as a Marine reservist, a direct violation of the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, among others, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Bello, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, is required to attend trainings at least once a month, the suit said. In addition, Bello has to attend an annual two-week training exercise with his military unit.

On Sept. 12, 2012, Bello complained to village and police officials about Skokie’s “new military leave of absence policy, which disparately affected members of the military,” according to the suit.
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