New documents detail battle between Greenfield mayor and police chief he's trying to oust
GREENFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- We're digging into the drama in Greenfield as the mayor pushes to oust the police chief.
Chief Jay Johnson has been on paid leave for more than 17 months.
Under state law, he cannot be fired without a hearing in front of the Greenfield Fire and Police Commission (FPC).
Now we're learning more about the mayor's claims, plus Johnson's response.
Mayor Michael Neitzke's statement of charges to the Greenfield FPC includes more than a dozen exhibits of evidence: text messages, emails, phone calls, and videos.
Neitzke wrote Johnson showed "complete disregard for the basic professionalism and decency" needed in a chief.
But Johnson—through his attorney—went point-by-point to say, "the Mayor has not established just cause for termination."
The battle has been brewing for nearly a year and a half. Johnson is on paid leave while a criminal case works through court. But Neitzke is building a separate case to have Johnson fired.
In his 15-page statement of charges, Neitzke alleges Johnson "Destroyed Records and Lied to the Public." He says Johnson destroyed disciplinary records from his two other employees' files.
In his response, Johnson denies "that he secretly or dishonestly destroyed official personnel records to conceal his employment history."
He acknowledged allowing the two employees to request removing their records, but says the issue is whether that was allowed.
Neitzke also claims Johnson's body camera shows him "deleting text messages from his work issued cell phone."
He said Johnson then "wiped the City-issued phone while it was in the City’s possession."
But Johnson "disputes the implication that any deletion or wiping of his City-issued cellular phone" was to destroy evidence.
He said he used one phone for both personal and work matters and said Neitzke cannot say what was deleted or why.
Neitzke said Johnson was given free alcohol by a business and drank on duty. "He walked through the Department with a grocery cart full of alcohol and offered it [to] Department members."
Johnson did not dispute alcohol was present but said it was a "promotion tradition," "one ounce of alcohol," "ceremonial."
Neitzke alleges Johnson was a bully and intimidated employees. Johnson is also "believed to have called the Police Department’s non emergency line."
Neitzke said six different employees identified Johnson's voice.
But Johnson "unequivocally denies making the anonymous call" and says cellphone records prove it.
He said all the people who identified his voice had made complaints against him.
Greenfield Fire and Police Commission meetings are scheduled on an as-needed basis.
Right now, there are no FPC meetings scheduled through the rest of the year.