LEBANON — A police chief's fight to keep his job in Maineville has moved to Warren County Common Pleas Court.

        Joe Lane, a 30-year veteran of the village department and the only black chief in the county, sued this week challenging council's vote to disband his department.

        He says council acted after he filed a federal civil-rights complaint alleging the village had reduced his hours and pay because of his age and race. He is 58.

        In a meeting Feb. 6, council passed an emergency ordinance disbanding its police force and approved a con tract with neighboring Hamilton Township to provide protection.

        Mr. Lane's suit contends council inappropriately passed the ordinance as an emergency measure to circumvent Ohio's Open Meetings Act and the wishes of the public.

        Mr. Lane has asked for a temporary restraining order to stop the village from enforcing the ordinance until the case is decided. A hearing has not yet been set.

        Claiming the village was in financial trouble, council has whittled its police force since early last year. Council fired six volunteer police officers and cut Chief Lane's hours to 15 a week at $10 an hour.

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