A federal agency has ruled Baltimore County officials violated the rights of a veteran police officer by forcing him to undergo medical exams — its second allegation of age discrimination within the county work force.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s ruling is a victory for 52-year-old Richard Czyzewski,  a member of the warrant apprehension task force who celebrates his 26th year with the department today.

Czyzewski sustained an on-the-job injury in December 2006 and worked light duty for two days before returning, according to the EEOC. Six months later, the county “totaled” all of his prior on-the-job injuries and determined he was “84 percent disabled,” ordering him to undergo a medical exam and disclose his entire medical history.

“The unreasonable justification that [the county] has identified for totaling up a police officer’s on-the-job injuries and treating the officer adversely on that basis has a disparate impact on older police officers as a class,” commission Director Gerald Kiel wrote.

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The EEOC has already filed a separate lawsuit alleging Baltimore County’s pension system illegally requires older employees to contribute more money for the same benefits as younger employees.

Also last year, the EEOC determined the county police department illegally subjected four police officers who had single-episode seizures to unwarranted medical scrutiny. A federal judge last month barred the county from requiring one officer to undergo an electronic brain scan.

“We are anxiously looking forward to the day the county decides to comply with the law and treat all employees legally,” said attorney Kathleen Cahill, who represents several of those officers as well as Czyzewski. “How many cases does it take?”

County administrators have argued its pension system reflects the time value of money. Close medical review of injured police officers is required to ensure public safety, they said.

“We just disagree with the findings of the EEOC,” said county spokesman Don Mohler. “We think they erred in a review of the facts.”

Leaders of the county’s police union said the county is trying to force aging officers to retire. Czyzewski had a long history of workers compensation claims, which union President Cole Weston said is part of the job.

“The irony of this is that this determination was going on while this individual was back in a full-duty capacity for six months,” Weston said.

The EEOC will attempt to negotiate a settlement between the parties.

jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com