A Plum police officer who was fired for allegedly intimidating a witness and then reinstated after he was acquitted of the charge is suing the borough for wrongfully terminating him.

Ryan Schneiderlochner was fired in October 2005 and charged with intimidating a witness in a federal investigation into him and other Plum borough officers for civil rights violations. Federal prosecutors alleged he made a tape of another police officer walking through the home of the witness to dissuade her from testifying. He was acquitted.

Later, he appealed his termination and was reinstated in December 2006 through binding arbitration.

Officer Schneiderlochner filed suit April 11 in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas claiming the borough violated his First Amendment rights and caused emotional distress and embarrassment and damaged his reputation. He is suing for compensatory damages and for lost wages and benefits.