BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKFORT -- A Boone County police officer, fired three years ago after he stopped his chief for allegedly driving on a suspended license, could get his job back.
The Kentucky Court of Appeals on Friday ordered the reinstatement of Jesse Baker, 55, now a candidate for Boone County sheriff. He was fired after a September 1995 incident in which Mr. Baker confronted the then-chief, Ace Ammann, in a convenience store parking lot. The chief's license was listed as under suspension because of an apparent error in the state's computer system. The problem was corrected.
The incident appeared to reflect bad blood between the two officers, said Judge Tom Emberton, who wrote the unanimous ruling.
"It kind of restores my faith in the system, to be honest with you," Mr. Baker said Friday. "I was hoping politics wouldn't go that deep, and it looks like it hasn't. Their comments were on the issues."
After the traffic stop, Chief Ammann ordered Officer Baker to the police station, where Officer Baker declined to tell him how he came to learn of the suspension. Officer Baker was cited for insubordination and fired. The police merit board upheld his firing.
Judge Emberton, one of three judges on the panel, said the punishment was far out of proportion to any alleged wrongdoing on Officer Baker's part. He said it was true that Chief Ammann's license had been suspended, even if in error. A tape recording of the conversation showed Officer Baker handled the traffic stop properly, Judge Emberton said. "In short, Ammann, much to his dislike, was treated like a citizen," the judge wrote.
The court ordered Mr. Baker reinstated with back pay. County officials could not be reached for comment Friday on whether they'd appeal to the state supreme court.
Mr. Baker, who joined the department in March 1991, was charged with insubordination, failure to follow administrative procedures, dishonesty and conduct unbecoming an officer. Chief Ammann said Mr. Baker should have reported the problem to his supervisors instead of confronting him. The police merit board upheld the termination in January 1996.
Mr. Baker's opponent is Sheriff Mike Helmig. Mr. Baker said he does want his old job back, but that he would prefer to be sheriff, if he is elected.
"I need to be back in law enforcement," Mr. Baker said.
