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.
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