Fired Sarasota deputy files suit, claims alcoholism is a disability

A former Sarasota County sheriff's deputy claims he was the victim of discrimination because he was fired for excessive alcohol use.

Clinton Knowles filed a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Thomas Knight under the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act, claiming protection under the law because his alcoholism is a disability.

"It was widely known ... throughout the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office that the plaintiff suffered from alcoholism to such an extent that it substantially impaired and limited plaintiff's ability to perform one or more of his major life activities," the lawsuit states.

Knowles was disciplined Oct. 24, 2007, for failing to report to duty and admitted to his bosses that he had such a problem with alcohol "that it affected his ability to do his work and had directly caused his failing to report to two assigned shifts," the lawsuit states.

Even before that date, he was regarded by his chain of command and colleagues as an alcoholic, according to the lawsuit.

The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to his lawsuit, Knowles was removed from his assignment to the SWAT team, pending his referral to the Employee Assistance Program. But, despite his repeated requests, he was never admitted to the program.

On Feb. 27, 2008, he was returned to full-duty status, and his referral to the Employee Assistance Program was put on hold.

The next day, Knowles, "while off duty, engaged in inappropriate and obnoxious behavior while at a restaurant and bar in Sarasota County," according to the lawsuit. He had a blackout and has no memory of the incident.

According to the North Port Police Department, Knowles was charged with misdemeanor battery after inappropriately grabbing two women at an Applebee's restaurant. Knowles refused to come to the police station to make a statement, but the women identified him in a photo lineup, Capt. Robert Estrada said.

On Feb. 29, 2008, Knowles checked himself into a 28-day detoxification program. He was granted time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act and successfully completed the program.

To date, Knowles has remained sober and in faith-based counseling, according to the lawsuit.

On April 28, Knowles was fired for violating the sheriff's general orders relating to off-duty use of alcohol and for "violations of the law" during the incident in the restaurant and bar, the lawsuit states.

Knowles is seeking lost wages, attorney's fees and other financial compensation. In addition, he wants an order requiring the sheriff to "provide reasonable accommodation to deputy sheriffs suffering from alcoholism."

A fact sheet posted online by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says alcoholics are covered by the Americans with Disabilities act. The fact sheet continues, "However, an employer can discipline, discharge or deny employment to an alcoholic whose use of alcohol adversely affects job performance or conduct. An employer also may prohibit the use of alcohol in the workplace and can require that employees not be under the influence of alcohol."

The EEOC says in another document explaining the law, "Employers may hold illegal drug users and alcoholics to the same performance standards as other employees."