The Haines Borough has agreed to pay former policeman
Rodney Hinson $9,680 and to seal his personnel file, effectively eliminating the record of
his termination.
Hinson was fired Jan. 15 after police chief Greg Goodman questioned his
handling of a September 2006 domestic disturbance and said Hinson didn’t understand
police safety procedures. He also said Hinson failed a lie-detector test.
Hinson appealed the dismissal, saying it was based on erroneous
information, that the polygraph test was administered incorrectly and the safety concerns
amounted to a difference of opinion on the use of guns when responding to potentially
dangerous situations.
Hinson and the borough agreed to drop discussion of the polygraph
earlier this year.
After two administrative appeals, Hinson’s grievance went before a
third-party arbitrator from Seattle three weeks ago. The borough initiated the settlement
before the end of the first day of the court-like hearing, Hinson said.
Hinson said he was "pretty much" satisfied with the
resolution, saying all he wanted was to clear his name. "They did what I asked them
to do months ago, and they paid me $10,000 on top of it, which I didn’t ask for. That
was offered to me."
Borough manager Robert Venables wouldn’t say why the borough paid
Hinson. "I don’t know if it’s as simple as (Hinson’s explanation). He
had a lot of other people there on his behalf," including a union representative and
attorney. "At the end of the day, that’s what negotiators came up with and
that’s what both sides thought was an appropriate compromise," Venables said.
Venables was asked whether $10,000 was the cost of terminating a
borough employee. "No, I would not say that. We’ve seen a number of issues that
drag on and on and on. The cost of continuing those issues has no known end. The finality
of this seemed to be appropriate."
The settlement agreement prohibits Hinson from working for the borough,
but doesn’t exclude him from applying for a job with the school district. Hinson
worked three years as a policeman in local schools, a position funded by a federal grant.
Hinson said he believed that prohibiting him from working for the
borough was an attempt by borough leaders to keep him from seeking elected office in local
government. He also said he was vindicated when an unemployment hearing officer determined
he was dismissed for reasons other than those cited by the borough.
Hinson’s sealed personnel record can be opened only be court
order. He also was required to submit a letter of resignation to the borough.
During the course of his appeals, a warrant was issued for
Hinson’s arrest after he failed to appear in court for a hunting violation. His trial
for operating a bear-baiting station within a mile of the Haines Highway will be heard in
local court next month.
