Source: https://publicpersonnellaw.blogspot.com/2017/04/termination-of-public-officer-from-his.html
Timestamp: 2017-05-23 20:37:28
Document Index: 338471827

Matched Legal Cases: ['§30', '§30', '§ 175', '§30', '§30', '§30']

New York Public Personnel Law: Termination of a public officer from his or her position by operation of law
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Munroe v Ponte, 2017 NY Slip Op 02041, Appellate Division,
The Commissioner of the New York City Department of
Correction [Department] summarily terminated Timothy Munroe, a New York City
Correction Officer, from his position pursuant to Public Officers Law §30(1)(e) following Munroe's conviction of a misdemeanor, falsifying business records in the
POL §30(1)(e) provides for the dismissal of a public officer
"by operation of law" upon the officer's conviction of a felony,
or a crime involving a violation of his oath of office. Munroe was served with disciplinary charges in March
2009 alleging that he left his assigned post without permission and had "an
undue relationship" with an inmate and making "false entries in the .
. . enhanced security post logbook." In October 2009, Munroe was indicted
on several charges, including falsifying business records in the second degree
and attempted assault in the third degree and in 2013 he was convicted of violating
Penal Law § 175.05[1], falsifying business records in the second degree. Notified in February 2014 that his employment was terminated
pursuant to Public Officers Law §30(1)(e), in August 2014 Munroe initiated a
CPLR Article 78 action alleging, among other things, that his termination was arbitrary
and capricious. The Department moved to dismiss the petition on the grounds
that the petition failed to state a cause of action and that the proceeding was
time-barred. Supreme Court granted the Department's motion on the ground
that the proceeding was time-barred, and dismissed the proceeding. The
Appellate Division affirmed Munroe's termination but "on a different
ground than that relied upon by the Supreme Court."
After explaining why Munroe's Article 78 action was not
untimely, the Appellate Division ruled that "[p]ursuant to Public Officers
Law §30(1)(e), an office is deemed vacant upon an officer's "conviction
of a felony, or a crime involving a violation of his [or her] oath of
office".]* Citing Feola v Carroll, 10 NY3d at 573, the Appellate
Division said that "Summary dismissal is . . . justified in circumstances
where [a] misdemeanor for which the officer is convicted demonstrat[es] a lack
of moral integrity,' namely, one that involves a willful deceit or a calculated
disregard for honest dealings.'" In
this instance, said the court, Munroe was convicted of falsifying business
records in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, an offense involving
willful deceit, and which resulted in the "automatic vacatur of his position pursuant
to Public Officers Law §30(1)(e)."
The Appellate Division ruled that under the circumstances in
this case Munroe's Article 78 petition failed to set forth allegations
sufficient to make out a claim that his termination was made in violation of
lawful procedure, was affected by an error of law or was arbitrary and
capricious or an abuse of discretion.
* Although not all public
employees are public officers, all public officers are public employees.
http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2017/2017_02041.htm