[Drizzt]

Worker suspended for pistol

Robbie Evans / City Government Reporter
Posted on April 3, 2003

A city of Monroe employee who carried a pistol on the parking lot of City Hall earlier this week will be suspended without pay for a month.

Assistant Sanitation Superintendent A.J. Jones is being disciplined after the city received inquiries Monday about a pistol being seen in the Public Works Department truck driven by Jones while it was parked at City Hall. Jones, a 37-year employee of the city, declined to comment Wednesday on his suspension.

City policy calls for immediate termination of an employee who carries a firearm on city property. However, Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo decided instead to deviate from the written policy and suspend Jones.

City Attorney Tommy Gardner said the suspension was justified because of extenuating circumstances. Gardner said Jones also serves as an after-hours security guard and is on 24-hour call by the city.

Gardner said Jones had notified his department heads that he occasionally carried a firearm and thought he had permission to carry the gun on city property.

"He thought since the department head and division head knew about his outside employment, it was okay for him to have the gun," Gardner said. "He just showed bad judgment by leaving it on the front seat."

Gardner said although Jones drives a city-owned vehicle home after work, he does not use the vehicle to travel to his after-hours job. Jones told city officials he had the gun in the truck because he had just picked it up from a repair shop.

City officials said Jones has a state permit to possess a concealed weapon. Monroe Chief of Police Joe Stewart said Jones did not violate any laws by carrying the gun in the truck.

"As far as the weapon left behind in a city vehicle, it's not a crime," Stewart said. "There is a policy in the city employee's handbook, and the mayor would have authority over that issue."

Mayo said he followed advice from Gardner and agreed that Jones should only be suspended.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/html/70CE38BA-A69D-43C7-89CD-50422758E06E.shtml

[Standing Wolf]

"He just showed bad judgment by leaving it on the front seat."

Uh-huh. Something about always keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction?

[Double Naught Spy]

The type of judgment in question, be it bad or good, is not relevan or salient to the employee's actions. He broke the rules that specifically preclude him from carrying on/in city property. Of course that was bad judgment relevant for keeping one's job there, but just because the incident can be casually described as bad judgement doesn't lessen the significance of the event.

I think I would also argue that he probably should have been terminated for the incident, not just because he violated the rules, but because the infraction was blatant. If the guy can't seem to keep the gun concealed or remember to not leave the gun openly displayed in an unoccupied city vehicle, then maybe he doesn't need to be working for the city as he doesn't appear to be responsible.