BOW To Review Klaehn Employment, Sgt. Pay Reduction Recommendations
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety Friday will hear a recommendation on the employment status of former Warsaw Police Department's probationary officer Joseph Klaehn.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins confirmed during an interview Wednesday that the board will review the recommendation for Klaehn's firing.Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter told the Times-Union Oct. 23 that he fired Klaehn after Klaehn was booked into the Allen County Jail Oct. 23 and charged with a misdemeanor count of domestic battery.
The Times-Union reported Oct. 29 that domestic battery charges against Klaehn were dropped by the Allen County Prosecutor's Office.
Wiggins said Wednesday afternoon that Hunter did not have the authority to fire Klaehn, but only to make a recommendation to the Board of Works.
"The police chief can make recommendations to the Board of Works for the hiring and termination of probationary personnel and employees, but the Board of Works is the body that has the authority to approve terminations and hirings," Wiggins said.
Wiggins said a police chief only has the discretion and authority to suspend an employee or probationary officer without Board of Works approval.
Hunter acknowledged his mistake today, saying state statute wasn't followed.
Klaehn subsequently has been placed on leave - suspended with pay - since Oct. 23 pending an investigation. The Board of Works will review the matter Friday, Wiggins said.
Warsaw city attorney Mike Valentine said a public hearing does not need to be held for probationary officers, but a recommendation for hiring or termination can be made by a police chief that must be approved by the Board of Works to be in effect.
The board also will review a recommendation for a 1-percent pay reduction for Warsaw Police Dept. Sgt. Robert Long.
The meeting is open to the public and is at 10:30 a.m. at Warsaw City Hall.
Long transferred from midnight shift to the day shift, Hunter said Wednesday.
According to the city's shift premium ordinance, a police officer who is assigned to third shift receives shift premium pay equal to 1 percent of a patrol officer's base salary.
If appoved, Long's first-shift bi-weekly salary would be $2,015.40. His current third-shirt salary salary is $2,031.36.
Long has served with WPD since Feb. 1, 1981, according to Warsaw Human Resources Director Jennifer Whitaker.
"We feel it is a positive move for the department to shift Robert from midnight to day shift and feel his experience and social skills will serve well in the day capacity," Hunter said.
Hunter said with Long being transferred to days, pending board approval, there is an opening for a sergeant's position on the midnight shift.
There also are three patrol spots open.
Steve Rockey was promoted to lieutenant, which opened up a sergeant position that is still vacant.
Internal interviews are currently being conducted to fill the sergeant position previously held by Rockey, Whitaker said.
