Police Chief's Attorney Expected To Make Statement On Faucett Case
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Discussion will continue Friday on Warsaw Police Dept. patrolman Tony Faucett's employment status.
During Friday's Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety regularly scheduled meeting, the board is expected to hear a statement from Mike Miner, attorney representing WPD Chief Perry Hunter.
During a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon, Miner confirmed that he will make a public statement during Friday's board meeting regarding Faucett's present employment status. Miner said he will make recommendations to the board on how he feels they should proceed based on his statements.Miner said he expects the issue to be resolved at Friday's public board meeting, and the board to come to a decision on Faucett's employment status.
The meeting is at 10:30 a.m. at city hall and is open to the public.
The board voted at its Sept. 4 meeting to suspend Faucett with pay until Sept. 30. Faucett requested at the Sept. 4 meeting that a hearing be held to continue discussion on the issue.
Also during the Sept. 4 meeting, Hunter recommended Faucett be terminated from his duties. Hunter presented a letter to the board during the meeting with alleged violations Faucett committed.
The alleged violations included neglecting duties by failing to act in the proper performance of his duties by failing to submit all written and oral reports as required by the rules and regulations of WPD.
The Times-Union received an e-mail from the mayor's office dated Sept. 22 stating two executive sessions were scheduled to discuss Faucett's employment status.
The e-mail stated executive sessions were scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. and Oct. 16 at 10 a.m prior to the regularly scheduled board of works meeting. The e-mail also stated the issue would be discussed during the board's Oct. 16 regularly scheduled public meeting at 10:30 a.m.
During a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, Warsaw city attorney Mike Valentine said board of works members met in executive session Wednesday to discuss the Faucett case.
He and Wiggins confirmed the originally scheduled Oct. 16 executive session to discuss the Faucett issue has been cancelled. They also said Miner is expected to make a statement Friday regarding Faucett's employment status.
During Wednesday's executive session, board members Wiggins, City Councilman Charlie Smith and City Council President Joe Thallemer met to discuss conclusions that had been reached between Miner and Richard Beers, attorney representing Faucett, according to Valentine.
Valentine, Human Resources Director Jennifer Whitaker and Clerk-Treasurer and recording secretary Elaine Call also attended Wednesday's executive session.
Valentine said no decision was made regarding Faucett's employment status during Wednesday morning's executive session.
