Court Opinion

ID: 9608356
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:11:01.30403+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:45.800006
License: Public Domain

BUETTNER, Judge, specially
concurring:
I agree with this resolution of the case because the City appears to have been proceeding as in a disciplinary action, finding cause to terminate its chief of police. A city may establish procedures to discipline its employees which may result in a variety of actions, including termination. Under the procedures adopted by the City of Stilwell, if an employee was subject to discipline, including termination, then the employee had the right to be informed of the charges and an opportunity to respond to the charges. These rights may be important in determining the quality of the evidence as well as providing the employee an opportunity to clear his name. However, these rights do not come into play when termination is for “the good of the service,” such as a reduction in force, or when a city council has simply lost confidence in a city official that it has the authority to hire and fire. When such an official is being terminated without cause, then disciplinary procedures such as the ones discussed in this case are not appropriate, and would unnecessarily restrict the ability of a city to terminate an employee without cause. Because the City was proceeding against its chief of police “for cause,” it may be liable for not following its disciplinary procedures.