Judge to rule in case of officer accused of reenacting George Floyd's murder yorkdispatch.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yorkdispatch.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Matthew Irvin, president of the White Rose Lodge No. 15, Fraternal Order of Police, said the mayor has stated that he would accept a court s ruling so the union is expecting him to follow the arbitrator s decision.
Irvin said the arbitration process is relatively inexpensive and quick and has worked for almost 50 years. The FOP and the city, he said, have respected these decisions in the past.
He said it s expensive to litigate in the courts. We’re spending a lot of money on this case where there’s no evidence of any wrongdoing, Irvin said.
In a statement, Ed Paskey, Swartz s attorney, said, “The Award is another vindication for Clay. The City did not want this matter to go to arbitration and tried repeatedly to prevent/delay the arbitration from happening.”
“I’m happy with my results,” Smith said. “It was an interesting survey. I think they tried to capture more information.”
Smith noted that members filled out the survey after, instead of before, the bar association held its judicial forum. Candidates could provide information about their qualifications as well.
If people are looking for a surgeon, she said, they’re going to reach out to other surgeons and people in the medical field for an opinion.
“Lawyers have a vested interest in having a judge who’s qualified and competent and has the proper temperament and integrity,” Smith said. “Basically, all the categories that the bar poll covers.”
The city has declined to return Swartz to active duty. The White Rose Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police filed a grievance demanding Swartz be reinstated with full back pay, according to court records. And that s what Tuesday s arbitration hearing was about.
Floyd was killed by then-Officer Derek Chauvin, who placed his knee on Floyd s neck for about 9 minutes in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. A jury this month convicted Chauvin of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter; sentencing is set for June 25, according to The Associated Press.
Swartz maintains he didn t reenact or make fun of Floyd s death, and a three-officer internal trial board cleared him of that and two related allegations last summer.
York City police officer can go to arbitration while city appeals decision, judge rules
A trial board cleared Officer Clayton Swartz of all three disciplinary charges against him: unbecoming conduct, use of alcohol off duty and truthfulness.
York Daily Record
A York City police officer whom a trial board cleared of allegations that he mocked the death of George Floyd can proceed to arbitration with his grievances, while the city is allowed to continue to appeal the decision in court, a judge ruled on Thursday.
Common Pleas Judge Matthew D. Menges held that the arbitrator, Thomas Leonard, can decide the issues that are properly before him, including whether Officer Clayton Swartz should be removed from unpaid administrative leave, compensated with back pay and reinstated.