Joined
·
1,265 Posts
Duxbury officer fired for working while out on disability
The Associated Press
6/18/03 7:42 AM
DUXBURY, Mass. (AP) -- A veteran Duxbury police officer, who the town manager said was collecting about $43,000 in disability pay at the same time he was working at his wife's Pembroke pizzeria, has been fired.
Scott Myers, a 20-year veteran of the force, received his $43,314 annual salary since he went on injury leave a year ago. He told Police Chief Mark DeLuca that he had injured his back while making an arrest.
After DeLuca asked Myers to return for light duty, including covering the front desk and answering the phone, three doctors who examined Myers reported that the officer has a disc injury, and was unable to perform the light duties.
In October, a private investigator hired by the police department videotaped Myers working at Capone's Pizza. The videotape was shown at a hearing in April.
Town Manager Rocco Longo fired Myers on Monday after two disciplinary hearings.
"He not only collected his town salary for a contrived injury, but mocked the public service he was evading by simultaneously doing similar duties for private financial gain," Longo wrote in a four-page decision.
Longo also said Myers requested numerous leaves of absences and abused his sick time while on the police force.
Myers' attorney, Douglas Louison, said his client obtained permission to work part-time at his wife's business long before he injured his back, and to date, the town has never withdrawn that permission.
Louison also said he has drafted an appeal to the Civil Service Commission, asking that Myers be reinstated and receive back pay.
The Associated Press
6/18/03 7:42 AM
DUXBURY, Mass. (AP) -- A veteran Duxbury police officer, who the town manager said was collecting about $43,000 in disability pay at the same time he was working at his wife's Pembroke pizzeria, has been fired.
Scott Myers, a 20-year veteran of the force, received his $43,314 annual salary since he went on injury leave a year ago. He told Police Chief Mark DeLuca that he had injured his back while making an arrest.
After DeLuca asked Myers to return for light duty, including covering the front desk and answering the phone, three doctors who examined Myers reported that the officer has a disc injury, and was unable to perform the light duties.
In October, a private investigator hired by the police department videotaped Myers working at Capone's Pizza. The videotape was shown at a hearing in April.
Town Manager Rocco Longo fired Myers on Monday after two disciplinary hearings.
"He not only collected his town salary for a contrived injury, but mocked the public service he was evading by simultaneously doing similar duties for private financial gain," Longo wrote in a four-page decision.
Longo also said Myers requested numerous leaves of absences and abused his sick time while on the police force.
Myers' attorney, Douglas Louison, said his client obtained permission to work part-time at his wife's business long before he injured his back, and to date, the town has never withdrawn that permission.
Louison also said he has drafted an appeal to the Civil Service Commission, asking that Myers be reinstated and receive back pay.
