Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened virtually on February 18, 2021, at 1:00 PM with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting focused on a single agenda item regarding a police disciplinary hearing, which was approved by the council. During the session, council members took four votes on various motions related to the proceedings. No public comments were heard during this meeting, and no presentations were given to the council.

Attendance

All members were present for the February 18, 2021 meeting.

Present: • Ms. Plomin • Ms. Reynolds • Ms. Sheehan • Ms. Baxter • Ms. Bledsoe • Mr. Fred Brown • Mr. James Brown • Mr. Ellinger • Vice Mayor Kay • Mr. Kloiber • Ms. Lamb • Ms. Legris • Mr. Mccurn • Mr. Moloney

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The meeting involved four roll call votes related to disciplinary action against Officer Middleton, all motioned by Vice Mayor Kay and seconded by Mr. Ellinger 0:00.

Motion 1: Find Officer Middleton guilty of violation of operational rule section 1.02 The motion passed unanimously with 15 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All 14 members voted in favor: Ms. Plomin, Ms. Reynolds, Ms. Sheehan, Ms. Baxter, Ms. Bledsoe, Mr. Fred Brown, Mr. James Brown, Mr. Ellinger, Vice Mayor Kay, Mr. Kloiber, Ms. Lamb, Ms. Legris, Mr. Mccurn, and Mr. Moloney.

Motion 2: Find Officer Middleton guilty of violation of operational rule section 1.15 This motion also passed unanimously with 15 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. The same 14 members voted in favor.

Motion 3: Find Officer Middleton not guilty of violation of operational rule section 1.18 The motion to find Officer Middleton not guilty of this particular violation passed unanimously with 15 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All 14 members supported this finding.

Motion 4: Terminate Officer Middleton The final motion to terminate Officer Middleton passed unanimously with 15 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All 14 members voted in favor of the termination.

All four votes demonstrated complete unanimity among the voting members, with Officer Middleton being found guilty of two operational rule violations (sections 1.02 and 1.15) but not guilty of a third violation (section 1.18), ultimately resulting in his termination from the department.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that generated substantial debate among participants.

Disciplinary Action Against Officer Jervis Middleton

The primary source of contention centered on disciplinary proceedings against Officer Jervis Middleton related to his conduct during protests. The discussion involved detailed examination of testimonies and evidence regarding the officer's actions.

The hearing process included presentation of various forms of evidence and witness testimonies that were scrutinized by meeting participants. The nature of Officer Middleton's conduct during protest situations became the focal point of heated discussion among those present.

Following extensive deliberation of the evidence and testimonies presented, the meeting participants reached a decision to terminate Officer Middleton's employment. This outcome concluded the disciplinary proceedings that had been the subject of the contentious debate.

The disciplinary action represents a significant personnel decision that required thorough review of the officer's conduct and adherence to departmental standards during public demonstrations.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this meeting record.*

Police Disciplinary Hearing

0:00 The council conducted a disciplinary hearing for Officer Jervis Middleton, who faced charges of misconduct, dissemination of information, and dishonesty.

Chief Lawrence Weathers presented the case against Officer Middleton, outlining the specific allegations and evidence supporting the charges. The hearing included testimony from multiple parties, with Officer Jervis Middleton speaking on his own behalf during the proceedings.

Additional testimony was provided by Sarah Williams and Christie Middleton, who contributed relevant information to the disciplinary review. The council carefully examined all evidence and witness statements presented during the hearing.

After deliberating on the charges and reviewing all testimony, the council reached a verdict on Officer Middleton's case. The council found Officer Middleton guilty of two of the three charges brought against him. The charges of misconduct and dissemination of information were sustained, while the dishonesty charge was not proven to the council's satisfaction.

Based on the severity of the sustained charges and their impact on the department's integrity and public trust, the council determined that termination was the appropriate disciplinary action. The decision to terminate Officer Middleton's employment was approved by the council.

The disciplinary hearing followed established procedures for police misconduct cases, ensuring due process while maintaining accountability standards for law enforcement personnel. The council's decision reflects their commitment to upholding professional standards within the police department and maintaining public confidence in law enforcement operations.