Bringing a climactic close to a heated hearing, the Civil Service Commission voted 2-1 Thursday to uphold the suspensions of two Columbus police officers.
Retired Lt. John Pevey and officer Richard Higgins were suspended 20 workdays by the City Council in February after Higgins totaled his squad car during a New Year”s Day storm.
The suspension means a loss of $4,800 in pay for Pevey and $3,393.60 for Higgins, and marks on both of their near-spotless records with the department.
Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John appeared frustrated at times during this morning”s Civil Service Commission hearing on the appeals of two officers.
St. John said he was not notified of the incident until Jan. 4, and the accompanying documentation was not complete.
He also said the incident occurred because Higgins was “not paying attention … not being attentive,” a statement which drew an audible gasp from a woman in the crowd.
St. John said he has discussed Pevey”s alleged failure to follow proper notification procedures before, saying it was “unacceptable behavior,” and Pevey told him he “wouldn”t do it again.”
“We have a lieutenant that has documented over and over again that he doesn”t know what he”s doing,” St. John said.
Al McAlexander was one of nearly two dozen people present for the hearing. He said he came out just to hear the proceedings and not necessarily to support St. John or Pevey.
“In my opinion, (St. John) seems as though he”s seen enough,” McAlexander said. “(Pevey”s) been in trouble three or four times.”
McAlexander disagreed with a bystander who said she thought St. John appeared “angry” during his testimony.
“At some points, he has a reason to be upset, and I don”t blame him,” McAlexander said. “He”s been over this enough.”
A cross-examination by Pevey”s attorney, Shane McLaughlin, and testimony by Pevey, had not yet taken place by press time.
Pevey has stated previously that he went above and beyond police protocol when Higgins” car was totaled and is asking the commission to drop his suspension. Higgins has requested that his suspension be reduced.
St. John had been scheduled for a video deposition after calling in sick to a meeting, June 17. He has since been suspended with pay until a City Council meeting July 19 after he allegedly tested positive for alcohol.
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