Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 | 9:21 a.m.
Gager has been battling the patrol since 1998 over what he says is an attempt to take away his status as a sworn officer. He is listed as 88 percent disabled after 21 reconstructive surgeries to repair damage caused by the bomb blast.
He says he worked in the User Services Unit for four years before NHP officials decided he couldn't retain his status as a trooper with his injuries.
Deputy Attorney General Steve Quinn, however, said that position was always a civil post until Gager took the job.
That dispute is scheduled for an arbitration hearing Oct. 31.
Meanwhile, Jack Kennedy, Gager's lawyer, filed a new lawsuit last week, claiming continual harassment and retaliation by his supervisors forced Gager into a medical retirement where he earns less than half the income he was making.
State officials deny the allegation.
Quinn said NHP has been willing to work with Gager since he was first injured and started by finding a way to bring him back to work.
Before, he said, troopers who were seriously injured would have been retired.
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