Opinion ID: 211217
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Gose's Alleged Violation of the LCA—Drinking in a public place While in Uniform.

Text: 6 On March 29, 2004, Douglas Potter (Potter), Customer Service Manager at the Wright Brothers Branch Post Office, proposed to remove Gose for violating the terms of the LCA. Potter wrote that on February 27, 2004, the Post Office had received a customer concern letter regarding Gose's drinking while in uniform at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9927, Kettering, Ohio. There were thirty signatures on the letter. Apparently, the members of the VFW were offended by the sight of someone drinking in uniform. As one member opined, Well, I'm retired military. . . . You just don't drink in uniform in a public place. The administrative judge (AJ) never expressly considered Gose's argument that the VFW had written the letter to his employer in retaliation for Gose's complaining about alleged accounting discrepancies in the VFW post's books. The motives of the VFW, however, are not relevant to this appeal and will not be further considered. 7 The underlying facts were never in dispute. In fact, Gose estimated that he had consumed three thousand mixed drinks at the VFW since 1988 and acknowledged that he often drank there while wearing his uniform. Rather, the dispute centered on whether Gose's actions had violated any postal policy, rule or regulation. If so, then according to the terms of the LCA, Gose's removal would be warranted. 8 Potter stated that Gose's actions had indeed violated several USPS standards of conduct as expressed in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM). These provisions were (1) § 661.3(f) (engaging in actions whether or not specifically prohibited by the Code, which might result in or create the appearance of . . . . affecting adversely the confidence of the public in the integrity of the Postal Service); (2) § 661.53 (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the Postal Service); (3) § 661.54 (drink[ing] intoxicating beverages in a public place while in uniform); 1 and (4) § 666.2 (failing to conduct [himself] during and outside of working hours in a manner which reflects favorably upon the Postal Service . . . .). 9 The deciding official, David Ashworth (Ashworth), Postmaster of Dayton, Ohio, agreed with the proposal to remove Gose. In his letter of removal, Ashworth stated that he believed that Gose's acknowledgements and admissions [of the underlying facts] in this matter demonstrate[d] that `Just Cause' existed for [his] removal. He further stated that Gose's actions in not observing Postal Service rules and regulations . . . violates the employee standards of conduct for employees as expressed in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) that forbid your drinking of intoxicating beverages in a public place while in uniform. The deciding official found that Gose's conduct was prejudicial to the Postal Service and served to undermine public confidence in the Service's integrity as evidenced by the corroborated initial customer complaint. 10 Ashworth also stated that he had reviewed and considered the Douglas factors, 2 including: (1) the seriousness of the offense and its prejudicial effect upon the agency's mission; (2) that other employees had received removal notices for similar offenses; (3) an absence of mitigating circumstances, including a lack of remorse; 3 (4) that Gose was employed pursuant to a voluntary LCA, and (5) that Gose could not be rehabilitated as an employee. He also cited the LCA, which clearly provided for removal as the next step of discipline.