PITTSBURGH - Twice after failed runs at becoming Mercer County sheriff, a deputy says his political opponents retaliated against him at work.
Anthony Tedesco, a former deputy sheriff of Mercer County, filed a lawsuit Feb. 26 against the county, the Sheriff of Mercer County, and Tim Callahan in his individual capacity. The case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Tedesco alleges that he was unjustly removed from his position after running for the position of Mercer County Sheriff twice. In 2019, he ran against another Deputy Sheriff, Bruce Rosa, in the Republican primary election. Rosa won and subsequently removed Tedesco from the Mercer County Critical Incident Response Team without explanation, the suit claims.
In 2023, Tedesco ran again for Sheriff against fellow deputy sheriff Callahan. Despite initially stating he would not support either candidate, Rosa endorsed Callahan, who went on to win the election, the suit says.
On Jan. 2 - just hours after Callahan was sworn in as sheriff - Tedesco received an Administrative Hearing Notice informing him of his suspension with pay and a Pre-Discharge Administrative Hearing scheduled for Jan. 4, he says.
After the hearing, Tedesco was fired without being told why, the suit claims.
Tedesco is represented by John Black III of Edgar Snyder & Associates.