Former longtime Hiawatha Police Sgt. Laura Tollefson will learn within the next five business days whether she will get her job back.
At the request of Tollefson, the Hiawatha City Commission held a grievance hearing Monday evening in a three-hour closed-door session.
Mayor Crosby Gernon made the following statement following the hearing...( play audio )
A standing room only crowd was on hand for the meeting to show their support for Tollefson. Many residents also sent letters to commissioners in support of the 20-year veteran officer.
Tollefson requested the grievance hearing after she was terminated by City Administrator Lynne Ladner on May 11th. She had been placed on administrative leave March 22nd prior to her termination.
Tollefson and her attorney, Brenda Head of Topeka, met with commissioners behind closed-doors to make their case as to why Ladner’s decision should be overturned.
Also present for the closed-door session were Assistant City Attorney Hillary Boye and the city’s labor attorney, Daniel Press of Wichita. Ladner was also present for a portion of the closed-door session.
Last Wednesday, the Kansas Attorney’s office announced their decision not to pursue prosecution of Tollefson. That followed a review of an investigation conducted by the Hiawatha Police Department into a complaint made against her by a fellow officer stemming from a domestic violence call last December.
The case has since been forwarded by the A.G.’s office to the Kansas Commission on Peace Officer’s Standards and Training.
© Many Signals Communications
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Holton man killed in Jackson Co crash
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Horton City Clerk's resignation accepted Monday
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
Local residents avoid injury in chain reaction crash
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
One held for past Atchison shooting
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
Wamego man sentenced in second fentanyl-related death
Mayetta pair arrested on meth, child endangerment charges
Stolen trailer, 4-wheeler, recovered in Atchison
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
Juveniles face charges following Atchison break-in
Atchison Co's Oswald named honorary bailiff for KS Court
LATEST STORIES
Pawnee City School Board approves personnel changes
Hazard mitigation planning meeting set for Atchison County MO
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Senator Slama on tax relief efforts
SE Nebraska March unemployment report
Falls City Career Academy to open during 24-25 school year
Denim Day declared for Nebraska state colleges