Former Plant City Police Department officer Mark Mathis requested a liberty, or name-clearing, hearing with Plant City last week, in an attempt to revise the record about his involvement with former Police Chief Steven Singletary.
Mathis was fired Jan. 29, after falsifying a dispatch report to help cover up for Singletary, who was caught meeting his mistress, Melissa Hardwick, after hours at a business off Wood Court, in Plant City. According to investigation reports, Mathis was dispatched to the business and found both Singletary’s and Hardwick’s cars in the parking lot.
However, on his dispatched call record, Mathis wrote that “both vehicles were (gone upon arrival).”
Mathis was notified of his termination Jan. 28, via a standard letter sent by the city. He also was told of the reasons of the termination by Assistant Manager of Public Safety Bill McDaniel.
In Mathis’ termination letter from City Manager Greg Horwedel, Mathis was told he had a right to examine his file, an option extended to any employee upon separation of employment.
“On examination of your file, if you believe there is any stigmatizing information in your file, you may within 30 days of your termination of employment make a written request to me for a post-termination hearing for the purpose of presenting such evidence as you may elect to clear your name of any such stigmatizing information,” the letter said.
Mathis took the opportunity to have a name-clearing hearing, alongside his attorney, Morris Purcell. His parents and wife, Amy, also attended the hearing, while friends waited outside in support.
The hearing was conducted by Sanders Bush, the city’s director of human resources, City Attorney Ken Buchman and attorney Tom Gonzalez.
After examining his file, Purcell argued that there were not any specific reasons listed in Mathis’ file for the termination, therefore they could not comment or try and clear his name.
In Mathis’ file, a personnel action form said the reasons for the dismissal is “in the best interest in the city.” That wording is standard upon separation of employment; Purcell said it was too vague.
Purcell also referenced a screenshot of Mathis’ employment record sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as part of protocol.
What was listed was the code Mathis violated, Ch. 943.13(4) which outlines an officer’s minimum qualifications stating an officer can “not have been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement” and also a violation of “Moral Character Standards.”
The screenshot was only part of further documentation sent to the FDLE. Not in the file was another code the city also sent to FDLE, Ch. 837.06, which relates to false official statements. The city does not have to include every single documentation in the paper file, Buchman said. The screenshot was placed in the file to prove the city forwarded documents to the FDLE, as protocol dictates.
Now, the FDLE Professional Compliance Section staff will look at documents from the investigation sent by the city to recommend any of the following for Mathis’ accreditation: no discipline; reprimand or re-training, with certification retained; certification retained on a probationary status; certification suspended; or certification revoked.
Purcell said the code didn’t give them enough to try to clear Mathis’ name during the hearing. There was no elaboration under the comments section.
“Officer Mathis can’t respond to that allegation, because the comment section is blank, and I do not believe that is sufficient notice or sufficient process to comply with the statute or even the city’s policy or the certifications or the FDLE’s policy regarding certifications,” Purcell said during the hearing. “So, without any further information, officer Mathis is unable to respond, unable to clear his name, because we don’t know factually, he hasn’t been presented with any facts, specific facts regarding the reason for his termination. I don’t have anything else to say; we don’t have anything else to say.”
But during the hearing, it is up to Mathis to comment on anything in the file and not for the city to give a rebuttal or further explanation, Buchman said.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.