Wednesday, February 16, 2000
Politicking gets cop suspended
Captain says he'll go to court
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
FAIRFIELD TWP. — Township trustees gave a police captain a three-day suspension without pay Tuesday for breach of duty and violating policy over his involvement in political activities.
Capt. Alan Laney also received a written reprimand and will have his job performance monitored through June by Township Administrator Kate Earley.
He is required to undergo training in conflict management and confrontational skills, and dealing with attitude problems in the workplace.
The punishment is effective immediately. Trustees Steve Morgan and Mark Sutton handed down the discipline after deliberating about 90 minutes. That came after a four- hour disciplinary hearing last week.
Capt. Laney, an 11-year veteran of the department and its assistant chief, was accused of allowing a police cruiser to be used in a political commercial for a township trustee. Trustee Joe McAbee did not participate in the hearing or deliberations because the ad in question was for Gail Livelsburger, his opponent.
Capt. Laney maintained that the charges were politically based, and that he and Mr. McAbee have had run-ins before over the department's operation. He said he will appeal the decision and punishment in court.
“This has been an ongoing four-year battle, specifically between Joe McAbee and myself,” he said. “There are a lot of political connotations that have to do with this case. I have maintained my innocence since the beginning.”
Capt. Laney, the Democratic Party-endorsed candidate for Butler County sheriff, also was charged with attending a political meeting for Mrs. Livelsburger on Oct. 21. The meeting was advertised as a discussion of issues and concerns regarding the police department, but Chief MichaelKirsch and other township officials were asked to leave the gathering.
The trustees said Capt. Laney was off-duty and had a right to participate in the meeting.
They would not comment on their decision and punishment.
During the hearing, Capt. Laney said he had received a call in October from a resident wanting to film a cruiser and directed township Police Offi cer Wendy Jackson to drive by on her regular patrol. Capt. Laney said he did not know who wanted to film the car. The film ended up in the ad.
But Chief Kirsch testified Capt. Laney should have asked who the resident was and why he wanted to film the cruiser.
The trustees turned down Capt. Laney's request to delay the punishment until the matter is heard in court.
“I will be glad when we get this into a real court,” he said. “This is not what I would consider a court. This is a lynching.”
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