Pubdate: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 Source: Topeka Capital-Journal (KS) Copyright: 2000 The Topeka Capital-Journal Contact: 616 S.E. Jefferson, Topeka, Kansas 66607 Website: http://cjonline.com/ Author: Steve Fry SHERIFF BARTA FIRES SGT. FRANK GOOD The sheriff's department drug scandal claimed a fourth member of the department Thursday when Sgt. Frank Good, a 15-year veteran, was fired. The date marked exactly one year since Good was charged with perjury in the scandal. "He's no longer an employee of the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department," Sheriff Dick Barta said Thursday afternoon. Barta referred other questions to county counselor Rich Eckert, who said Good was "discharged for just cause" effective Thursday. He said the firing was related to the perjury charges. Good, 40, is to stand trial May 1 in Shawnee County District Court on two counts of felony perjury for allegedly testifying falsely Feb. 22, 1999, and March 10, 1999, that he didn't know Timothy P. Oblander used illegal drugs while a deputy. Oblander issued a statement March 1, 1999, admitting he had been addicted to cocaine. Eckert said "just cause" is a disciplinary standard that "involves a review not only of whether the officer engaged in misconduct which warrants discipline, but also of whether the level of discipline imposed was fair given the officer's offense." He declined to expand on the firing. Eckert said two copies of a short letter informing Good that he was terminated had been mailed to Good on Wednesday. One copy was sent by registered mail and the other by standard mail to make sure Good would received the letter. "We had a due process meeting on Monday, and (Good) was given his chance to explain," Eckert said. Eckert declined to discuss what occurred at the due process meeting, which was attended by Good, Eckert, a member of the Fraternal Order of Police representing Good and sheriff's Capt. Kermit Crane, who represented sheriff's department management. The FOP is the bargaining unit representing deputies. Eckert said he gave legal advice to the sheriff's department on the Good matter but Barta made the decision to discharge Good. A decision hadn't been made on whether the sheriff's department would forward its decision to the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission, which issues certificates to officers, Eckert said. According to state law, an officer in Kansas must be certified in order to work in law enforcement. Dave Meneley, who was ousted Feb. 24 as sheriff, is in the midst of an action to determine whether the training commission will revoke his law enforcement certificate. On Wednesday, a Shawnee County district judge acknowledged many news stories had been written and broadcast about the sheriff's department drug scandal but declined to move Good's case outside Shawnee County for trial. She said prejudice against Good hadn't been demonstrated. On Tuesday, the judge turned down Good's request for more time so he could hire an attorney to replace his current defense attorney. Before his firing, Good had been on administrative leave with pay since Feb. 25, a day after Meneley was ousted from office. Good didn't return a phone call seeking comment Thursday. Besides Good and Meneley, others who have left the sheriff's department as a result of the drug scandal are Oblander, who resigned Feb. 26, 1999, and Undersheriff Bill Huffmier, who was fired the same day Meneley was ousted. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D