Post by KC on Feb 18, 2006 14:03:56 GMT -5
02/17/2006 - A Jackson Township police officer was suspended for three days for making disparaging comments about a female police employee, while discipline is expected to be announced Tuesday for a male police officer and female clerk accused of engaging in oral sex while he was on duty.
According to an investigation which was released Friday, Lt. Bruce Wilson was disciplined Thursday over comments he made to a secretary considering the police academy that women shouldn’t be in police cruisers.
Jackson Police Chief Harley Neftzer said the comments took place Feb. 2 in the Jackson Safety Center.
“They were made in poor judgment,” he said.
The comments were overheard by several other employees, who confirmed them to Neftzer.
According to the police chief, Wilson apologized the following day to the female employee.
“Everyone interviewed, including Lt. Wilson, concurred that the comments were made,” the police chief wrote in his report. “Some were offended by the comment, others were not. Although, Lt. Wilson indicates his expression was out of concern for females in a hazardous occupation, they are certainly not appropriate given the diversity of our work force and the role females play in law enforcement. Lt. Wilson clearly expressed poor judgment in these utterances. The appropriate discipline is recommended.”
Wilson, a 36-year veteran, has served as a policeman and detective for the Massillon and Jackson police departments.
According to reports, Wilson admitted in an interview with Neftzer to making the comments. Wilson said he acknowledges, in retrospect, that they were in poor judgment, but adamantly defended his intentions, which he said were for a female’s well-being. He also went on to say he would do whatever he could to help any female if it were her goal to become a police officer.
Wilson’s attorney, Allen Schulman, said the officer will serve the suspension, which is slated for next week.
“He was concerned since he lost his daughter at a young age,” he said. “He was concerned for her safety and didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”
Schulman added that Wilson understood the comments weren’t appropriate.
“He recognized it with today’s hypersensitivity and sent her a personal letter of apology,” he said.
In other news, a special trustee meeting is scheduled 10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss an executive session a case involving officer Troy Ransom and clerical worker Melissa Sims.
They’re accused of engaging in oral sex in a parking lot of Family of Christ Lutheran Church while Ransom was on duty.
He has denied his involvement in the matter and is also being charged with untruthfulness.
Trustee William Burger has said he’s heard recommendations of termination for both, while Fraternal Order of Police representative Chuck Choate has said he plans to fight to keep jobs for both employees.
According to an investigation which was released Friday, Lt. Bruce Wilson was disciplined Thursday over comments he made to a secretary considering the police academy that women shouldn’t be in police cruisers.
Jackson Police Chief Harley Neftzer said the comments took place Feb. 2 in the Jackson Safety Center.
“They were made in poor judgment,” he said.
The comments were overheard by several other employees, who confirmed them to Neftzer.
According to the police chief, Wilson apologized the following day to the female employee.
“Everyone interviewed, including Lt. Wilson, concurred that the comments were made,” the police chief wrote in his report. “Some were offended by the comment, others were not. Although, Lt. Wilson indicates his expression was out of concern for females in a hazardous occupation, they are certainly not appropriate given the diversity of our work force and the role females play in law enforcement. Lt. Wilson clearly expressed poor judgment in these utterances. The appropriate discipline is recommended.”
Wilson, a 36-year veteran, has served as a policeman and detective for the Massillon and Jackson police departments.
According to reports, Wilson admitted in an interview with Neftzer to making the comments. Wilson said he acknowledges, in retrospect, that they were in poor judgment, but adamantly defended his intentions, which he said were for a female’s well-being. He also went on to say he would do whatever he could to help any female if it were her goal to become a police officer.
Wilson’s attorney, Allen Schulman, said the officer will serve the suspension, which is slated for next week.
“He was concerned since he lost his daughter at a young age,” he said. “He was concerned for her safety and didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”
Schulman added that Wilson understood the comments weren’t appropriate.
“He recognized it with today’s hypersensitivity and sent her a personal letter of apology,” he said.
In other news, a special trustee meeting is scheduled 10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss an executive session a case involving officer Troy Ransom and clerical worker Melissa Sims.
They’re accused of engaging in oral sex in a parking lot of Family of Christ Lutheran Church while Ransom was on duty.
He has denied his involvement in the matter and is also being charged with untruthfulness.
Trustee William Burger has said he’s heard recommendations of termination for both, while Fraternal Order of Police representative Chuck Choate has said he plans to fight to keep jobs for both employees.