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Gold Beach police chief is still suspended
By Jessica Musicar, Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 06, 2009 | 1 comment(s)
It’s been more than two weeks since Police Chief Russ Merkley headed the Gold Beach Police Department, but there seems to be no end in sight to his suspension.
City Administrator Don Flynn, who decided to suspend Merkley with pay as of Dec. 17, would not comment when and if Merkley would return.
“I can’t speak to that issue at this time,” Flynn said Monday.
In the meantime, Cpl. Paul Giovannetti is leading the department, with two regular officers and one reserve. When Merkley was suspended there was only one officer, Chris Kinney, to provide police coverage for the city. A reserve provided some assistance and Kinney was compensated for his time, the city administrator added.
“Chris did an excellent job,” Flynn said.
Flynn said he also could not comment on the reason or reasons behind Merkley’s suspension, but noted there are no criminal charges against him.
“Anything that deals with the personnel I can’t address,” Flynn said. “If there were criminal charges it would be open to the court, so I guess I can say there’s no criminal charges, yes.”
He added that he and Merkley are putting together some communication but would not elaborate on what that meant.
Lea Sevey, the wife of Kelly Sevey, an officer with the Police Department, said she believes the suspension has something to do with her husband. She said he recently underwent surgery for an old knee and foot injury and was allowed to return to full-time, but light duty, with his doctor’s approval. However, she said, Flynn often sent him home and put him on half-time duty with numerous restrictions.
“He’s a hardworking man. He wanted to work,” she said. “It seemed like a personal vendetta by the city administrator because that scenario did not apply to other people who have been on light duty.
“It’s not like there wasn’t work for him to do.”
Lea Sevey said Merkley tried to point out to Flynn that Officer Sevey could work full-time light duty, via the city’s policy.
According to a story in the Curry County Reporter, Merkley was quoted as saying he believes Flynn was asking him to break the policy.
“We have a light duty policy that allows personnel to return to work, and perform duties allowed by their doctor,” said Merkley in the article. “It’s a standard policy.”
Flynn was quoted as saying that it was not the reason Merkley was suspended.
Lea Sevey noted that her husband visited the doctor on Monday and will be able to return to full duty.
Merkley was unavailable for comment. A spokeswoman from the Curry County Circuit Court said no recent lawsuit has been filed against Flynn or the city of Gold Beach by Merkley or any other party.
City Administrator Don Flynn, who decided to suspend Merkley with pay as of Dec. 17, would not comment when and if Merkley would return.
“I can’t speak to that issue at this time,” Flynn said Monday.
In the meantime, Cpl. Paul Giovannetti is leading the department, with two regular officers and one reserve. When Merkley was suspended there was only one officer, Chris Kinney, to provide police coverage for the city. A reserve provided some assistance and Kinney was compensated for his time, the city administrator added.
“Chris did an excellent job,” Flynn said.
Flynn said he also could not comment on the reason or reasons behind Merkley’s suspension, but noted there are no criminal charges against him.
“Anything that deals with the personnel I can’t address,” Flynn said. “If there were criminal charges it would be open to the court, so I guess I can say there’s no criminal charges, yes.”
He added that he and Merkley are putting together some communication but would not elaborate on what that meant.
Lea Sevey, the wife of Kelly Sevey, an officer with the Police Department, said she believes the suspension has something to do with her husband. She said he recently underwent surgery for an old knee and foot injury and was allowed to return to full-time, but light duty, with his doctor’s approval. However, she said, Flynn often sent him home and put him on half-time duty with numerous restrictions.
“He’s a hardworking man. He wanted to work,” she said. “It seemed like a personal vendetta by the city administrator because that scenario did not apply to other people who have been on light duty.
“It’s not like there wasn’t work for him to do.”
Lea Sevey said Merkley tried to point out to Flynn that Officer Sevey could work full-time light duty, via the city’s policy.
According to a story in the Curry County Reporter, Merkley was quoted as saying he believes Flynn was asking him to break the policy.
“We have a light duty policy that allows personnel to return to work, and perform duties allowed by their doctor,” said Merkley in the article. “It’s a standard policy.”
Flynn was quoted as saying that it was not the reason Merkley was suspended.
Lea Sevey noted that her husband visited the doctor on Monday and will be able to return to full duty.
Merkley was unavailable for comment. A spokeswoman from the Curry County Circuit Court said no recent lawsuit has been filed against Flynn or the city of Gold Beach by Merkley or any other party.
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