Opinion ID: 2508217
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence Supporting the Board's Decision

Text: KSU argues that substantial competent evidence supports the Board's findings that Jones' actions constituted gross misconduct or conduct grossly unbecoming a state officer or employee under K.S.A. 79-2949f. It contends that the Court of Appeals majority reweighed the facts and substituted its own judgment for that of the Board, the PRC, and the appointing authority. Jones counters that the Court of Appeals majority correctly focused on the lack of evidence of intentional falsification. He contends that KSU is trying to rewrite the Board's findings of fact in an attempt to include disputed facts not decided in its favor. The PRC unanimously concurred with the KSU Police findings and recommendation for dismissal on the grounds that Jones violated KSU Police policy by submitting false information in a case report regarding this traffic stop and violating the in-car camera policy that states every traffic stop shall be recorded until the stop is terminated. Without explicitly finding that Jones violated these policies, the Board concluded that Jones' actions that day constituted gross misconduct or conduct grossly unbecoming a state officer or employee. This finding of gross misconduct, coupled with the specific factual findings discussed below, strongly suggests that the Board found that Jones violated both policies. As such, our analysis will focus first on whether substantial competent evidence supports these factual findings.