OPINION AND AWARD
In the Matter of Arbitration Between the CITY OF CLEVELAND, OHIO And CLEVELAND POLICE
PATROLMEN’S ASSOCIATION
) ) American Arbitration ) Association )
Case No. 53 390 00324 13
)
)
Grievance: #17-13
)
Grievant: P. O. Shani Hannah
) )
Hearing: May 8, 2014
)
Briefs Rec
’
d: July 16, 2014
)
Award: September 30, 2014
) )
Paul F. Gerhart, Arbitrator
) Present for the Hearing
For City of Cleveland
: Susan M Bungard, Esq., Assistant Director of Law Martin L. Flask, City of Cleveland Aikdterini Houston, City of Cleveland Timothy A. Stacho, Sgt., Internal Affairs Unit
For Cleveland
Police Patrolmen’s Association
:
Patrick A. D’Angelo
, Esq., Attorney
Detective Jeff Follmer, President, CPPA Shani Hannah, Grievant Marissa Serrat
13-1305 AAA
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Procedural Background
The Cleveland
Police Patrolmen’s Association
(the Union), is the collective bargaining agent for Patrol Officers employed by the City of Cleveland, Division of Police (the Employer or City). During the term of their 2010-2013 labor agree-ment (the Agreement, JX 1), the parties were unable to resolve a grievance involv-ing the City
’s
termination of Police Officer Shani Hannah. Under the provisions of the Agreement, Article XXII, Grievance Procedure, the undersigned was selected through the auspices of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and appoint-ed subject to the rules of said Association to issue a final and binding decision in the matter. Upon the mutual agreement of the parties, a hearing was held on May 8, 2014, in a Conference Room at Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio. At the time of the hearing, the parties stipulated that the grievance was properly before the arbitrator. During the course of the hearing, each party was accorded the opportunity to examine witnesses and present other evidence. A stenographic record of the proceeding was made by Karen Toth, Fincun-Mancini Court Report-ers, Cleveland. Witnesses were sworn but not separated. At the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, the parties waived oral argument and agreed to file post-hearing briefs. Such briefs were delivered to the arbitrator via e-mail on July 16, 2014 and were exchanged by the arbitrator on the same day at which point the record in the matter was closed.
Grievance
On May 22, 2013, Grievant was discharged by the City. Her letter of discharge signed by Martin L. Flask, Director of Public safety, read in part (JX 2, p12):
On Wednesday, July 11, 2012, you pled guilty to Ohio Revised code Assault, 2903.13, a misdemeanor of the first degree. . . . [Y]ou were sentenced to the Cuyahoga County Jail for a term of six (6) months. The execution of the sentence was suspended. You were sentenced to serve twelve (12) months of probation, perform court community work service for twenty-five (25) hours, submit to random drug testing and successfully complete an anger management program.
The letter indicated that P. O. Hannah entered a plea of “No Contest”
to the allegations set forth in the charging letter. Further it included the following (JX 2, p13):
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The incident that led to the criminal and, administrative charges began Sunday, March 11, 2012 when you engaged in a dispute during which you stabbed your boyfriend with a knife, you fled from the scene and an attempt to take your own life was thwarted by responding Cleveland police officers. You were ultimately arrested and indicted for Felonious Assault, a felony of the second degree. On Wednesday, July 11, 2012 you pled guilty to Assault in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2903.13, a misdemeanor of the first degree and were subsequently sentenced by the court. · Your conduct, during and after the incident for which you were found guilty ln a count of law, raises serious concerns about your fitness to continue employment with the Cleveland Division of Police. Although you were found guilty of a lesser offense than that for which you were indicted, the evidence clearly revealed that you used a weapon in an attempt to inflict serious bodily harm on another. The use of a weapon to inflict harm on another is ·inexcusable and unacceptable conduct by an officer of the Cleveland Division of Police. . . . [Y]ou are hereby terminated from employment with the Cleveland Division of Police effective May 22, 2013.
Shortly thereafter, in an undated grievance, Steven W. Kinas, Vice President of the CPPA filed the following grievance on behalf of P. O. Shani Hannah (JX 2, p14):
FACTS: On May 22, 2013 the above officer was terminated from employment with the City of Cleveland without just cause. The finding of guilt and the punishment imposed [are] contrary to the just cause provisions of the CBA. The termination is in violation of Articles IV, XXII, XXIX, the Witnesseth Clause, and the past practice between the parties. The termination is also disproportional to past disciplinary cases where officers have engaged in similar conduct and not been terminated. REMEDY: Officer Shani Hannah should be reinstated with full back pay and restoration of all lost benefits together with any other relief to which she may be entitled.
The parties were not able to resolve the matter through earlier steps of the grievance procedure so it is now before this arbitrator for final and binding determination.