The Associated Press
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) - A 32-year veteran police lieutenant said he was fired because some officers on the force don’t like that he is a candidate for sheriff.
Lt. Phil Yerington, a Democratic candidate on the November ballot against incumbent Scott County Sheriff Dennis Conard, said Police Chief Mike Bladel fired him Friday afternoon.
“I was fired for answering one question, while off-duty, assuming the role of candidate for sheriff, on a personal cell phone,” Yerington said. “That and only that.”
The official reasons given for his firing was that he was a habitual offender of department policy, divulging information, insubordination and giving unauthorized announcements, he said.
Yerington complained after a fax critical of him was sent on Aug. 22 to KWQC-TV from a police department machine. The fax accused Yerington of treating some employees in the department unfairly while allowing others to abuse sick-leave policies. Yerington believes the fax was politically motivated.
Yerington has accused another officer of sending the fax.
A city news release last week said the unauthorized fax was the act of a single individual, but an investigation did not reveal enough evidence to charge anyone with a departmental violation.
Yerington said he plans to appeal his dismissal and file a lawsuit that will bring to the public a side of the police department they’re not going to like.
The department’s internal affairs system puts Bladel in a position as the accuser, witness, judge, jury and executioner, he said.
He said internal affairs at the police department is “laughable” when it lets the person who sent the fax off the hook and fires the person who made the complaint.
Yerington, a two-term mayor of Davenport known for being outspoken, said he will continue to campaing for sheriff.
“What I’m fighting for is what is right,” he said.
He termed the investigation into the defamatory fax a coverup of an attempt to sabotage his campaign to run for sheriff.
“Were going to ask people to realize (it as) ugly, dirty, unprofessional politics,” he said. “They’re not going to get away with it.”
Yerington said he has been subjected to two different disciplinary actions in the past several months based on what he called trumped-up charges by Bladel.
City Administrator Craig Malin declined comment when asked about Yeringtons status Friday.
Yerington’s supporters held a rally for him Saturday. About 60 people showed up, inlcuding a contigent of Davenport police officers.
“This is a travesty, this is wrong,” said Brinson Kinzer, co-chairman of Yerington’s campaign for sheriff. “They have taken a man...and have tried to ruin him because somebody’s scared he’s going to win the sheriff’s race.”