Speed up process to fire bad cops
A Wisconsin State Journal editorial.
July 24, 2006
City taxpayers have been paying a suspended Madison police officer for nearly two years not to work.
That's way too long.
The city needs to speed its disciplinary process for police officers and firefighters who are formally accused of misconduct.
If that doesn't happen, the state should step in and limit how long taxpayers must hang on the hook.
Madison police officer Russell L. Henderson was suspended in September 2004 but has continued to collect his annual salary of about $58,000. His last assignment was as the educational resource officer at Memorial High School.
Henderson pleaded guilty in Dane County Court in January 2005 to disorderly conduct and making a telephone threat. About five months later, Madison Police Chief Noble Wray recommended Henderson be fired for unlawfulness and for lying to internal affairs investigators looking into a domestic abuse incident at his home.
That, in turn, triggered a slow, tedious review process by the city's Police and Fire Commission that continues today.
The commission plods along in part because its citizen members often have day jobs. That means the commission typically can meet only during the evenings and Saturdays.
The commission generously grants delays for just about any reason either attorney comes up with. And there's little incentive for an accused officer -- especially a guilty one -- to try to expedite a case. After all, if the officer loses, his or her pay check might go away.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled three years ago that Police and Fire Commissions can hire hearing examiners to handle difficult or large cases. That was supposed to shorten the time it takes to discipline or fire police officers and firefighters accused of wrongdoing.
But Police and Fire Commissions across Wisconsin have stubbornly ignored this option, preferring instead to slog along toward decisions on their own.
In the meantime, taxpayers have to shovel money to employees who don't work.
Given the difficult nature of their jobs, police officers and firefighters deserve some insulation against undo political pressure. They deserve a fair review before a chief can fire them.
But they don't deserve years of pay for sitting at home. Either fire Henderson or put him back to work in some capacity. If that's not possible, the state should allow the city to cut off his pay until a decision is finally made.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/index.php?ntid=92208&ntpid=1
A Wisconsin State Journal editorial.
July 24, 2006
City taxpayers have been paying a suspended Madison police officer for nearly two years not to work.
That's way too long.
The city needs to speed its disciplinary process for police officers and firefighters who are formally accused of misconduct.
If that doesn't happen, the state should step in and limit how long taxpayers must hang on the hook.
Madison police officer Russell L. Henderson was suspended in September 2004 but has continued to collect his annual salary of about $58,000. His last assignment was as the educational resource officer at Memorial High School.
Henderson pleaded guilty in Dane County Court in January 2005 to disorderly conduct and making a telephone threat. About five months later, Madison Police Chief Noble Wray recommended Henderson be fired for unlawfulness and for lying to internal affairs investigators looking into a domestic abuse incident at his home.
That, in turn, triggered a slow, tedious review process by the city's Police and Fire Commission that continues today.
The commission plods along in part because its citizen members often have day jobs. That means the commission typically can meet only during the evenings and Saturdays.
The commission generously grants delays for just about any reason either attorney comes up with. And there's little incentive for an accused officer -- especially a guilty one -- to try to expedite a case. After all, if the officer loses, his or her pay check might go away.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled three years ago that Police and Fire Commissions can hire hearing examiners to handle difficult or large cases. That was supposed to shorten the time it takes to discipline or fire police officers and firefighters accused of wrongdoing.
But Police and Fire Commissions across Wisconsin have stubbornly ignored this option, preferring instead to slog along toward decisions on their own.
In the meantime, taxpayers have to shovel money to employees who don't work.
Given the difficult nature of their jobs, police officers and firefighters deserve some insulation against undo political pressure. They deserve a fair review before a chief can fire them.
But they don't deserve years of pay for sitting at home. Either fire Henderson or put him back to work in some capacity. If that's not possible, the state should allow the city to cut off his pay until a decision is finally made.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/index.php?ntid=92208&ntpid=1