Town of Mount Carmel OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 100 East Main Street Post Office Box 1421 Mount Carmel, Tennessee 3 Larry Frost Phone (423) 357-7311 ** Fax (423) Mayor E-Mail MCCH @ C April 22, 2013, Lt. Christopher Jones Q 5 Dear Lt, Jones: As a result of recent actions by you and your overall performance as a Police Officer, itis incumbent that disciplinary actions be taken against you. After consultation with Mayor Frost and review of your recent actions, it has been determined that those actions fall within several of the grounds for taking disciplinary actions against an employee. Those found under Chapter V of the Personnel Policies and Procedures are as follows 11. Possession, use or presence under the influence of an intoxicating beverage or illegal drug while on duty or on Town property 21, Conduct unbecoming a town employee, tending to be prejudicial to the reputation of the town government, or otherwise contravening the public interest. 22. Violation of the constitution of the United States or the State of Tennessee, any state or federal law or regulations or any town ordinance. 23. Any other act or failure to act that demonstrates that the offender is unsuitable or unfit for employment with the Town of Mount Carmel Additionally, it has been determined that vou have violated the Regulations of the Mount Carmel Police Department found in A-02.07 Prohibited Actions, and in particular: A16, Conduct himself in a manner unbecoming to a police officer and detrimental to the service. A17. Commit any criminal offense. and A33, Fail to report know violations of laws or ordinances For these and other reasons as they may appear, I must notify you that you are dismissed as an employee of the Town of Mt. Carmel, Grievance Procedures are found in Personal Policy at Chapter 5, Section 5.4 Sincerely Michael Campbell Chief of PoliceJONES, CHRISTOPHE S so = Date Submitted: 05/02/2013 30:02 PM EDT Reason for Separation Claimant Provided Reason for Separation: FirediDischarged HEISHE WAS DISCHARGED FOR VIOLATING GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE COMPANY EITHER WRITTEN OR UNDERSTOOD AS STANDARD BUSINESS PRACTICES, Employer's Reason for Claimant's Seperation: Fired/Discharged If the reason for separation is a Labor Dispute, is the not working due to a strike oF a lockout? Does the claimant have reasonable assurance of returning to work? No Ityes, what date do you expect the claimant to return to work? If the claimant is stil doing some work, is the claimant working all available Not Provided hours? Ino, why isnt the claimant working all available hours? Additional Separation Information Please enter any additional information regarding this separation. Enter ‘None if there is no other information to be added. Due to TBI and Second Judicial Drug Task force on going investigation all info to you is protected. Officer |Jones was discharged from employment due to violations of personnel policies and procedures as listed in (Chapter V1 Disciplinary Action. Attachment to foll Compensation After Separation What type of compensation did or will the claimant receive after the last day of Vacation work? Was the compensation allocated to a specific period of time? Yes Yes ~ What isthe beginning date for the compensation allocation? o7iosi2011 What isthe encing date for the compensation allocation? o7iosiz2012 What is the amount of the claimant's compensation after separation payment? 1823 What date will or was the compensation paid? 0510212013 Page 31. Officer Jones was discharged from employment due to violations of personnel policies and procedures as listed in Chapter VI_Disciplinary Action 11. Possession, use or presence under the influence of an intoxicating beverage or illegal drug while on duty or on town property. A. This violation stems from a delivery of "found property" on 04/18/2013, (a mens jacket susposedly found at our city park), that contained 42.00 cash, 14 oxycontin pain pills, and durg paraphernalia. These items were inventoried and photo copied by Lt. Kevin Ewing of the Mt. Carmel Police Department and a 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force agent. The agent then, posing as a private citizen, turned the jacket and items over to Officer Jones. The DEA agent was working under the direction of the Mt. Carmel Police Department, the Hawkins County District Attorneys office, the Kingsport Police Dept. DEA, and the T.B.!. All aware of an on-going TBI investigation that began in May 2012 involving Officer Jones and a confidential informant who gave reason to believe that officer Jones was selling and buying narcotic pain medication. Officer Jones turned in the evidence that was given himby the DEA agent, minus 4 of the oxycontin pain pills. B. We have reason to believe that Officer Jones intentionally kept four of the oxycontin pain pills. 21. Conduct unbecoming a town employee, tending to be prejudicial to the reputation of town government, or otherwise contravening the public interest. A. conduct unbecoming by not turning in all of said evidence. B. Documented communication between known felons and Officer Jones. The 2nd Judicial Drug Task force recorded Officer Jones discussing the sell of prescription medication with a convicted felon that they were using as a confidential informant. Said confidential informant gave statements to the D.E.A. that he/she had made purchases of narcotics from Officer Jones. 22. Violation of the constitution of the United States or the State of Tennessee, any state or federal law or regulations or any town oridance. A. Theft of property that was turned into the police department. B. Consorting with know felons to include the sell ofnarcotic pain medication. C. An on going investigation by TBI for "Doctor Shopping". The TBI has notified the Mount Carmel Police Department that Officer Jones is being investigated for having numerous doctors in which he obtained pain medication from. 23. Any other act or failure to act that demonstrates that the offender is unsuitable or unfit for empolyment with the Town of Mount Carmel. 2. While on medical leave Officer Jones set up a facebook account to help apprehend a fugitive from justice. After locating the fugitive Office Jones took his personnal vehicle with his wife and son to help in the apprehension. Officer Jones's wife got out of the vehicle and ran after the fugitive on foot. Additional violated Regulations of the Mount Carmel Police Department Policies and Procedures found in A- 02.07 Prohibited Actions. A16. Conduct himself in a manner unbecoming to a police officer and detrimental to the service. 1. This violation includes all listed above.A17. Commit any criminal offense 1. To include the theft of medication ( 4 oxycontin pills) from evidence. 2. The 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force investigation with their confidential informant statements and recorded phone calls of pain medication transactions. 3. TBI's investigation for "doctor shopping" A33. Fail to report known violations of laws or ordinances. 1. failure to report to any agency that he was being approached by a known convicted felon to purchase prescription pain medication. (DEA's confidential informant) A-02.04 Section H of our Policies and Procedures manual plainly states that: Members of the department shall avoid personal association with persons who have an open and notorious reputation in the community for criminal behavior ( immediate family ties excluded), except in the discharge of their official duties and with the permission of the chief of police and Town Administrator.STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SIDES SEPARATION EXCHANGE INFORMATIONAL ATTACHMENT lf you AGREE with the Reason for Separation the claimant has provided, you may complete the Request for Separation, which may include an actionable attachment that is a writeable POF. This PDF can be downloaded, edited and re-attached to your response. Hf you DO NOT AGREE with the Reason for Separation the claimant has provided, provide the employer's Reason for Separation in your response. Please see the tables below to identify if an actionable attachment is required based on the employer's Reason for Separation. If required, you may go to Tennessee's agency web site at the following address hitp:/wy.tn 0 abor-wid/sice: PDF. This PDF can be edited and re-attached to your response, ‘and download the appropriate attachment, which is a writeable =r eee = et See ae = eee Se S Form # Letter Descriptions: ‘Separation Reason Codes: byrne = ee ee Se = a wom, |Site ee eee nae a, TTNINF Page 2STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SIDES SEPARATION EXCHANGE INFORMATIONAL ATTACHMENT Forme Letr Descriptions Separation Reason Codes Acne VOLUNTARY Gurr va01 | workne conpmrions ves vo02 | RETIREMENT ves. evans | REDUCED WORIGNG HOURS = Voluntary QuilSeparaion ves vos | misceL.aNEous aur = Volunty QulSeparaion ra vai0_| MEDICAL CONDON 6 = Voluntary QuilSeparation YES vaz7_| CORPORATION = Voluntary QuilSeparation VES. evaze | uwITED uABLuTY ouPAN = Voli Quien ves: Vaz9_| NOW ALEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE 1. Leave of Absence ves Hf claimant worked less than full time hours and gross wag download and complete the ELW43 form. This PDF can be edited and re-attached to your response, 16S are less than employee's weekly benefit amount, please orm ter Descriptions aration Reason Codes ecole Form Letter Deseripti ‘Separation Reason Codes es VOLUNTARY QUIT euwas | STILL EMPLOYED, PART TIME ‘1 Stil Employed, Part Time NO TNINF Page 2August, 1", 2011 Mayor Lawson, 1am writing this letter in reference to my position with the town as the Fire Chief. Several years ago when ‘you asked me to lead the fire department in its advancement toa better ISO rating and better service, | was ‘more than excited to take the challenge. I believe that I have far exceeded the expectations of what was asked of me. I have made the department known regionally with its live fire raining facility. Uhave also increased the assets of the fire department to well over one million dollars worth of equipment, which was, ‘obtained with litte or no money from the town and with everyone’s help, we gained a class 4 - ISO rating which is remarkable after being told by several people it was not possible, 1am pleased with the service I have provided you and I hope you are pleased in the direction the department was heading. However, a this time, itis getting more difficult meeting the expectations of the board due to the restrictions which are being placed on me. I also am happily married and I have discussed ‘with my wife and son the continued burden and stress which this is putting on me and my family. It has taken countless nights, weekends, holidays and vacations from my family. For the reason stated above, I am asking that I be transferred back to the Police Department so that I may spend more time with my family and some much needed rest. I feel that this may relieve some burden which you have had dealing with the restrictions which the board has presented to us. Your assistance and consideration in this matter is greatly appreciated. Ihave enjoyed very much working in the position and look forward to working with you and the town of Mount Carmel in the future.Mount Carmel Police Department 100 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1421, Mount Carmel, Tennessee 37645 Phone (423) 357-7311 Fax (423) 957-7710 EMail mech@chartertn.net JEFF JACKSON Chief of Police To: Fire Chief Chris Jones From: Chief Jeff Jackson 02-27-2009 Ref: Fire call complaint After investigating complaints in reference to a fire call that occurred on 02-26-2009 it was determined you placed the town in a liable situation based on poor decision making as a department leader. As of your receipt of this notice you will be suspended for a period of two (2) weeks without pay. You will turn in your keys, town ID, cell phone, and city vehicle and you will not be allowed on town property (other than city hall for personal business) for the duration of that time Ifyou feel this decisis ‘n is not just you have the option to appeal it to the Mayor for reviey or you may file a written response fe Chief of Police Mount Carmel Public Safety