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Sgt. Jayson Steele Fired by City of Southlake |
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Posted On Friday, May. 09, 2008
Breaking News
Sgt. Jayson Steele Fired by City of Southlake
By Jean Weaver
Contributing Writer
Southlake police Sgt. Jayson Steele, a nine-year veteran, was fired today, Friday, May 9, for “untruthfulness and conduct unbecoming [an officer].”
Steele's attorney Terry Hickey said that Capt. Rusty Daniels gave Steele the termination letter effective immediately. Chief Wade Goolsby is reportedly on vacation.
The timing of the action seemed curious, as the referendum on the police and firefighter initiative for civil service goes before Southlake voters Saturday, May 10.
When asked about the timing of the firing, Pilar Schank, city community relations officer, had no comment. Officer Andy Anderson, president of the Southlake Police Officers Association, said Steele was fired because he has evidence against Goolsby, just as Lt. Mike Kenny did. Kenny filed complaints against Goolsby last fall and lost his job. Later he was re-instated, but punished.
Anderson said the timing of the firing Steele was not coincidental, but was a deliberate effort to prevent supporters from getting the word out to voters before the election.
“This is a classic example of why we need civil service,” Anderson said. “Now, the person who fired him is the person he has to appeal to.”
Under civil service, Steele could appeal to a civil service commission consisting of three Southlake residents. Steele was placed on paid leave Jan. 30 after filing a notice under the federal Whistleblower Act. The resulting internal investigation was halted March 4, a police source said, when Steele filed a 25-page hostile work environment/harassment complaint against Goolsby. Today's firing came as a result of a complaint that Steele sent to Mayor Wambsganss and City Councilwoman Laura Hill.
Yelverton informed Steele and Hickey on May 8 that Steele’s March 4 complaint against the chief, “would not be acted upon.” Hickey said that Yelverton told them that the decision on the March 4 complaint is final and could not be appealed.
Schank confirmed Thursday’s decision and today’s termination of Steele, but added that officials would not comment on personnel issues because “the appeals process is in play.”
Hickey said that Steele, who has five days to appeal his termination, would file an appeal next week. “A lawsuit is highly probable,” Hickey emphasized. Hickey said that the same people in the city of Southlake who fired Steele are in charge of the appeal.
“I don't see that they'll necessarily do the right thing,” she added.
Steele is among three ranking officers disciplined since original complaints were taken informally to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office in spring 2007, and since several police sources, which remain anonymous, brought their concerns to the Southlake Journal in August 2007. One sergeant was demoted two ranks, Kenny was fired and re-instated with punishment, and Steele was fired today. Kenny filed a lawsuit for damages on April 3.
“We in the association stand behind Steele 100 percent,” Anderson said. “I guess we’ll see how his case pans out in the civil courts.”
Nicholas Sakelaris contributed to this article.
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