Jerry, By Ruben Toledo, SO Detention Deputies
[snip] Jerry [fifty-seven year old family man, who has worked for the Sheriff’s Office Detention and Corrections Bureau for over six years.] was accused of not reporting an incident and conduct unbecoming. Shortly thereafter, PBA appealed his firing.[ Rice's] Office offered his job back, under certain conditions... that he lie and admit to doing wrong.
Jerry was shocked at this offer and he could not believe that the agency he had worked for all these years would place him in this predicament. If he accepted the offer, he would be able to provide for his family and get his life back on track. Jerry did not even think about the offer and turned it down. He knew that truth and justice would prevail in the end. It took over ten months to get a hearing date.
...Jerry and his family were financially devastated. ...
On March 31, 1999 Jerry had his hearing with the Department Of Administrative Hearings (DOAH). Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Carolyn Holifield presided in his case. .... ALJ Holifield’s recommended order was to reinstate Jerry. .. All that was needed was the approval of the Civil Service Board.
The Civil Service Board has never reversed a recommended order from an ALJ during a Civil Service Board Hearing.
It was clear that the deck was stacked against Jerry. Civil Service members R.D. McIntyre, William Repper, and Walter L. Schafer, Jr. Esquire voted against Jerry and without competent, substantial evidence reversed the ALJ recommended order...
[Rice] handpicked all the three board members who voted against Jerry. ... Repper did not justify his vote. I guess I would have voted the same way if my wife was Sheriff Rice’s campaign manager.