Arbitrator ruled Wednesday that Lincoln’s firing over prior steriod use was unreasonable
By Mitch Mitchell
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
ARLINGTON, Tex. — A 12-year veteran police officer fired from her job in March has been reinstated, according to arbitration documents.
Kelly Lincoln, 38, was fired after a Nov. 4, 2006 off-duty domestic dispute that took place at her partner’s residence in Irving, arbitration documents show. Lincoln’s partner was throwing Lincoln’s uniforms and personal items out of the residence when Irving police arrived, the document said.
She told an Irving police officer that Lincoln touched her inappropriately during the incident and that Lincoln had steroids. A police report was filed, but no arrests were made. She later withdrew the assault allegation, according to the arbitration document.
The Arlington internal affairs unit investigated and Lincoln was fired March 19 after losing an appeal.
During an arbitration hearing that ended Oct. 18, Lincoln admitted that she had used steroids for less than two weeks in 2006 and that she had steroids in her possession at the time of the incident, the document said.
An arbitrator ruled Wednesday that Lincoln’s firing was unreasonable and ordered that she be reinstated within three days of the ruling. The arbitrator said in his report that Lincoln volunteered for a drug test, ceased steroid use well before the domestic dispute and holds both a master’s degree and an advanced peace officer certificate.
Lincoln’s request for back pay was denied. The arbitrator wrote that the seven months without pay should serve as a reminder to Lincoln of Police Chief Theron Bowman’s concerns about maintaining the highest standards within the police force.
“The Legislature passed and the city’s leaders enacted the arbitration system,” said Lt. Blake Miller, police spokesman. “We will abide by the arbitration process.”
Copyright 2007 Fort Worth Star-Telegram