The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Former officer's termination reduced to suspension

Parade to mark Memorial Day in Lebanon
Updated 4 min. ago
Lebanon updates law banning vicious dogs
New 6 min. ago
Emergency response team offers training
New 8 min. ago
4-H Club helps erect flag pole at Bentley Woods
New 10 min. ago
City honors life of Lebanon marshal
New 18 min. ago
> More headlines

By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer 7:47 PM Saturday, January 21, 2012

TRENTON — Former Trenton police sergeant Mike Matala’s termination in July 2011 was reduced to a 30-day suspension without pay, according to an arbitrator’s ruling.

However, the ruling also stated that Matala would not be reinstated to employment.

The termination will be removed from his personnel file, according to the ruling, and he will be considered to have resigned from employment effective Dec. 28, 2011.

Matala was awarded back pay from Aug. 20 through Dec. 28, which amounts to approximately $15,000 before deductions, according to Trenton City Manager John Jones.

“Matala needed to move on from our department,” Jones said. “I’m happy we won the decision. This allows us now to move forward and also to fill the vacancy of sergeant which has been empty since July.”

Matala, a 10-year member of the Trenton Police Department, was terminated effective July 20, following a pre-disciplinary hearing for insubordination for failure to obey an order; absent without leave for leaving his assignment without permission; conduct unbecoming of an officer and for use of OHLEG for non-law enforcement purposes. Matala’s salary was $70,758 in 2010, according to Jones.

“I don’t necessarily agree (with the decision),” Matala said of the arbitrator’s ruling. “As a police officer I value honesty, pride and integrity. But if that’s the way that department wants to operate then I guess I’d rather work somewhere else.”

The situation began when Matala wrote a citation for a traffic violation on May 16 to a Trenton resident who is the wife of a firefighter in another city.

Three days later at the request of the woman’s husband and after review of the traffic stop video, the citation was voided by Lt. Mike Gillen.

Matala argued the decision to void the ticket, which led to him being placed on leave and to his initial firing before the arbitrator overturned the ruling.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852, or Skip.Weaver@coxinc.com.

Share this article