A former Bend Police Department employee is suing the city, accusing authorities of promoting a less-experienced employee to a manager’s job instead of him because he is deaf.

Christopher Ponder, a former public safety systems administrator who lives in Bend, alleges the city discriminated against him and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a lawsuit filed Jan. 22 in the U.S. District Court in Eugene.

Ponder seeks an undisclosed amount in damages from the city, the lawsuit states.

Ponder began working for the police department in September 2014, the lawsuit states. About a year later, he accepted a position as public safety administrator.

His job involved information technology, the lawsuit states. He worked on department projects, hired and trained the department’s public safety technician, managed the department’s IT budget and worked with vendors on implementing solutions to technical problems “to protect lives during his tenure,” according to the lawsuit.

Ponder wanted the job of public safety manager and was qualified, the lawsuit states. But on Feb. 28, 2022, Bend Police Capt. Jason Maniscalco told him the department was appointing a subordinate employee named Brandon Haywood, who Ponder had hired and trained.

“Captain Maniscalco denied (Ponder) the opportunity for the Public Safety Manager assignment, because of his disability,” the lawsuit states, alleging that the city appointed Haywood because he was not deaf.

Ponder had more experience, education and had worked for the department longer than Haywood, the lawsuit states. He had worked in public safety for 20 years, while Haywood had worked five. In addition, officials did not publicly post the position before appointing Haywood, who was “preselected illegally,” the lawsuit states.

“Mr. Ponder was heartbroken when the city of Bend did not go through best practices in hiring someone for the position,” said Bernard Mazaheri, Ponder’s attorney.

Ponder became depressed and was placed on leave before taking personal leave, the lawsuit states.

Ponder resigned on Sept. 18, 2022, the lawsuit states.

“Unfortunately, we can’t comment on pending litigation,” Bend Police spokeswoman Sheila Miller said in a text message to The Bulletin.

Ponder’s is one of two ongoing federal lawsuits against the city involving Bend Police.

Caleb Hamlin is suing former Bend Police officer Kevin Uballez and the city, alleging Uballez slammed his head into the ground during an arrest on June 6, 2021, according to court records. Uballez, who was cleared of criminal charges stemming from the incident, was fired on Jan. 19.