Former Columbia police Officer Rob Sanders' reinstatement hearing in front of the city's Personnel Review Board has been scheduled for 8 a.m. Nov. 15, city Human Resources Director Margrace Buckler said.
It will be in council chambers on the first floor of City Hall, 701 E. Broadway. Sanders was fired in 2011 after he pushed a prisoner in a holding cell. Sanders was charged with misdemeanor assault in August 2012. On Oct. 1, Callaway County Circuit Judge Carol England acquitted Sanders after a two-day bench trial.
Sanders filed the paperwork for a reinstatement hearing two years ago, but the case was on hold while charges were pending. Per his request, the meeting will be open to the public.
The hearing will be conducted much like a court trial, Buckler said recently, with Sanders' attorney, Scott Jansen, and Deputy City Attorney Cavanaugh Noce each giving opening statements and arguing their cases. They have the opportunity to call witnesses and submit evidence. Noce's opener will begin the hearing because the city took action against Sanders, Buckler said.
After both sides are done, the board, made up of residents with knowledge of personnel management, will go into closed session and make a recommendation that will be sent to City Manager Mike Matthes, who has final say on whether Sanders will get his job back.
Matthes also will receive a transcript of the hearing and any evidence entered. He will have 30 days to make his decision. After Matthes makes his choice, Sanders' appeal process with the city will be over. Should he not win, Sanders' only option for reinstatement would be to sue the city, Buckler said recently.
Jansen did not return a message seeking comment.
The Personnel Advisory Board hasn't conducted a hearing like this since 2010, when two were held. Two hearings also were held in 2008 and one in 2009, Buckler said. All of those hearings were closed to the public.
This article was published in the Tuesday, October 29, 2013 edition of the Columbia Daily Tribune with the headline "Rob Sanders' reinstatement hearing planned for Nov. 15."