COLUMBUS — Four Columbus Police officers are waiting to hear if they”ll get another shot at recouping a month”s pay.
Wade Beard, Heath Beard, Robert Walker and Cpl. Spence Wallingford appeared before 16th Circuit Judge Lee Howard Friday morning to appeal their suspensions for inappropriate behavior while attending a field sobriety training course in Vicksburg in May 2009, but Howard did not rule Friday.
“He said he would have his clerk notify us when he had an order. He didn”t give a time frame. It could be today to a few weeks,” said Columbus City Attorney Jeff Turnage.
“I bet it will be a while. A couple weeks maybe,” said Rod Ray, the officers” attorney.
Howard”s ruling could affirm the suspensions, send the case back to the Columbus Civil Service Commission for further investigation or reverse the suspensions.
The four officers were suspended for 15 days — equating to about $3,000 in pay — by the Columbus City Council May 19. They subsequently appealed to the Civil Service Commission, which upheld the suspensions, June 17.
If Howard does reverse the Civil Service Commission”s decision, the city will have an opportunity to appeal the ruling. If the city declines an appeal, the officers would receive the portion of their salaries lost due to the suspensions.
During Friday”s appeal in Lowndes County Circuit Court, Ray argued his clients were not suspended on good faith and the justification for their suspensions has been inconsistent.
“The rules have changed at every junction,” said Ray.
The appeal filed in 16th Circuit Court on behalf of the officers claims their suspensions were not based on credible evidence, were not made in good faith and that Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John could not or would not cite which section of the CPD”s Standard Operating Procedure manual on which he based his recommendation to the city board that the officers be suspended.
Reasons cited for the officers” suspension were driving without a seat belt, violating standard operation of a city vehicle and conduct unbecoming of an officer.
The alleged inappropriate behavior took place at the Vicksburg National Military and was reported by a park ranger and two anonymous witnesses.
The park ranger and visitors reported the officers, along with a Lowndes County sheriff”s deputy and his fiancée, were riding around in a marked police cruiser with the doors open, flashing its lights and bumping the siren. Additionally, the deputy and his fiancée were riding in the trunk.
Wallingford has since resigned from the police force, after being investigated for misuse of his CPD-issued patrol car and computer.
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