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Jax police officer suspended with pay
Sgt. ***** ******* allegedly under the influence of alcohol twice while on duty; suspension in effect until full hearing on the accusations.
BY MARIA NAGLE
Journal-Courier
By a unanimous vote, the Jacksonville Board of Fire and Police Commissioners decided Friday to continue the suspension with pay of Jacksonville Police patrol Sgt. ***** ******* until a public hearing next month on allegations he was twice under the influence of alcohol while on duty.
The three-member board took the action in open session after deliberating for nearly 30 minutes behind closed doors. Friday??s hearing was only to determine whether to continue the temporary suspension until the board can hear evidence from the department and Mr. Surratt on the allegations.
Neither Sgt. Surratt nor his attorney, Richard V. Stewart Jr. with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, commented during the meeting or afterward.
The commissioners rejected Police Chief Don Cook??s request that Sgt. Surratt be suspended without pay pending the hearing at 7 p.m. Oct. 22. The location of that hearing will be announced at a later date.
Sgt. Surratt, a 16-year veteran of the police force, has been on suspension with pay since Aug. 17. In addition to patrol duties, Sgt. Surratt serves in command and supervisory capacities.
In allegations filed by Chief Cook, Sgt. Surratt is accused of testing positive for being under the influence of alcohol first on Dec. 18 and then again on Aug. 17.
Chief Cook further alleged that following last year??s initial incident, Sgt. Surratt failed to follow appropriate treatment and allegedly continued to use or abuse alcohol.
Sgt. Surratt was ordered on each occasion to submit to alcohol testing and provide a urine sample at Passavant Area Hospital, after his immediate supervisor, Lt. Tim Shea, suspected Sgt. Surratt was under the influence of alcohol, because he thought he detected an odor of alcohol coming from Sgt. Surratt. The testing is authorized by terms of command officers?? union contract with the city.
In his complaint, Chief Cook said the hospital reported in both incidents that Sgt. Surratt had an alcohol concentration of .08 percent. Under Illinois law, a driver is considered to be illegally driving under the influence when the alcohol concentration is .08 percent or higher. Under the labor contract, an alcohol concentration of .02 percent or more constitutes a positive test.
Sgt. Surratt ??voluntarily sought assistance with alcohol related problems, agreed to appropriate treatment and to discontinue his abuse of alcohol, as well as submit to random testing during a one-year period following the (December) initial test,? Chief Cook stated in his complaint.
All JPD officers who voluntarily seek such assistance with drug and/or alcohol problems after a first positive test are not subject to any disciplinary or other adverse employment action by the city, according to the labor contract.
If an officer fails to comply with treatment or testing or an officer tests positive a subsequent time for the presence of illegal drugs and/or alcohol, the labor agreement calls for the officer??s termination of employment through the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
Because of Sgt. Surratt??s second alleged positive test while on duty, Chief Cook wants the commissioners to fire Sgt. Surratt following the upcoming hearing on the allegations.
Police department policies prohibit any officer from consuming or possessing alcohol (unless in accordance with duty requirements) at any time during the work day or anywhere on any city premises or job sites, including all city buildings, properties and vehicles, as well as the officer??s personal vehicle.
Reporting for duty or working while under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug also is prohibited.
Friday??s special meeting was moved from the Mayor??s Conference Room to the City Council Chambers, because of the number of people attending.
They included Sgt. Surratt's brother, Jacksonville Parks and Lakes Superintendent Bruce Surratt and other family members; former and current police officers, including Chief Cook and Captain Steve Poole; the city??s attorney, Dan Beard, who will essentially act as the prosecutor at the Oct. 22 hearing; and 21 members of the West Central Illinois Leathernecks Marine Corps League and Auxiliary. Sgt. Surratt, a former Marine, is a member of that league.
The allegations were not read aloud or discussed at Friday??s meeting, but the board??s attorney, Eddie Carpenter, provided written copies of the allegations to news media, because Mr. Carpenter said he considered it to be a public document.
The Oct. 22 hearing will be open to the public. During the hearing, attorneys for the city and Sgt. Surratt will be able to present evidence, and the commissioners are expected to decide whether to terminate Sgt. Surratt??s employment on the police force.
The three commissioners are Charles Heitbrink, Marc Dahman and Jack Lukeman, who were appointed by Mayor Ron Tendick and approved by the City Council to serve on the board.
