Sidelined Ronan officer status off table for discussion
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RONAN – Mayor Kim Aipperspach and Ronan City Council members said last week that they could not publicly discuss the work status of Ronan Police Officer John Mitchell, who has not returned to work since he was cleared by a doctor to perform light duties.
Community members and city staff have asked questions during the past two weeks about why Mitchell has not been put back to work, as the department’s caseload has become backlogged because of a shortage of officers.
“As a taxpayer, why couldn’t (John Mitchell) be put back to work working some of those (backlogged) cases?” former Ronan Police Chief Allen Corneliusen asked the council.
In an Aug. 4 meeting, Aipperspach told the council that Mitchell had not returned to work because though the officer had been cleared for light duty, “the work is not available at this time.”
Mitchell was demoted from the position of police chief in April, after two months in the position. Soon after, he took a medical leave of absence. City Clerk Kaylene Melton told the council Mitchell does want to return to work, and was cleared for light duty.
On Aug. 11 Aipperspach, who is serving as interim police chief, said he couldn’t say anything further about the matter.
“We’ve come across this every meeting before,” Aipperspach said. “It’s personnel issues. I can’t bring it up even if I wanted to.”
City Councilmembers Roger Romero and Cal Hardy explained the process Mitchell can take if he wants to appeal the directive of his immediate supervisor, Aipperspach.
“(Mitchell) has the option of bring it before a closed session,” Romero said.
If Mitchell wants that meeting to be made public, he can do so, Romero added.
Mitchell was in attendance for the Aug. 11 meeting, but did not join in the conversation about his work status.
