Wife of Pine Bluff Mayor Plans to Appeal Suspension Over Drug Test
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: May 10, 2012
According to police report and Trudy Redus' own account, she was involved in an accident on April 28, 2012, while driving a Parks and Recreation Department utility vehicle.
According to Redus, she was attempting to turn off the vehicle's caution lights, and when she reached left the vehicle veered right, striking a pole and throwing her son Trey from the vehicle.
According to a report submitted by Parks and Recreation Director Angela Parker to the Personnel Committee, after inquiring about Trey's condition, and being told he would need to undergo surgery for a head injury, Parker said she told Redus she would need to take a drug test as required by city policy.
According to Parker's report, Redus told her she had no problem with that. Parker said when she later inquired with Parker about the test, Redus told her she had taken care of it.
However, Parker's report claims that in a conversation with Redus on the following Monday, Redus said she needed to check with Human Resources about the drug test. Parker's report outlines that she believed Redus had already submitted to the test, but that Redus told her the staff at Jefferson Regional Medical Center refused to administer it.
According to Parker's report, she inquired with Human Resources officials, who said the last they had heard from Redus was that she intended to take the test on Saturday.
The Parks and Recreation Personnel Committee voted last Friday to suspend Redus for two weeks without pay and place her on a year-long probation period. Redus was not at the meeting to present her side to the committee, but in a statement dated May 9, 2012, Redus claims she did not receive notice of the meeting, thus explaining her absence.
"I was not informed that any disciplinary action against me was being considered, nor was I notified that a committee hearing would be held on Friday morning May 4, 2012, I did not appear because notice was not provided."
Redus also included an alternative explanation of events to those outlined by Parker's report.
According to a statement from Redus, she has not made any untruthful statements, neither to her supervisor nor anyone else involved in this matter.
Redus affirms she was in an accident, that she and her son were transported by Sheriff's Deputies to the hospital where her son underwent surgery.
Redus also acknowledges she was notified she needed to submit to a drug and alcohol test. However, Redus claims when she inquired with hospital staff about the test, she was told either a physician or agency would have to authorize the request as the hospital did not conduct tests on an individual request.
"She [the member of hospital staff] further informed me that the types of drugs to be tested for would also need to be authorized. I then requested to be tested for all drugs illegal and prescription," Redus' statement reads. "I then requested to be tested for all drugs illegal and prescription. The nurse advised me that any drug test would still need to be authorized, and no authorization had been given by the city supervisor at that time."
Redus claims she informed the staff she would be in the waiting area during her son's surgery, but she said she never received notification of authorization for the test.
"I was unfamiliar with the city's drug testing policy and or procedure, but assumed that my supervisor was as she instructed me to take the test," Redus' statement says. "I further assumed my supervisor was aware that she would have to authorize JRMC to perform the drug test and that I would be notified once arrangement for testing was completed."
According to Redus, she plans to appeal the Personnel Committee's decision with her statement reading, "I have elected to appeal the disciplinary actions taken against me and look forward to setting the record straight."
According to the city drug and alcohol policy an employee who refuses to submit to or obstructs the processes of a drug/alcohol test when notified by a supervisor that it is required will be terminated.
According to Redus, she was attempting to turn off the vehicle's caution lights, and when she reached left the vehicle veered right, striking a pole and throwing her son Trey from the vehicle.
According to a report submitted by Parks and Recreation Director Angela Parker to the Personnel Committee, after inquiring about Trey's condition, and being told he would need to undergo surgery for a head injury, Parker said she told Redus she would need to take a drug test as required by city policy.
According to Parker's report, Redus told her she had no problem with that. Parker said when she later inquired with Parker about the test, Redus told her she had taken care of it.
However, Parker's report claims that in a conversation with Redus on the following Monday, Redus said she needed to check with Human Resources about the drug test. Parker's report outlines that she believed Redus had already submitted to the test, but that Redus told her the staff at Jefferson Regional Medical Center refused to administer it.
According to Parker's report, she inquired with Human Resources officials, who said the last they had heard from Redus was that she intended to take the test on Saturday.
The Parks and Recreation Personnel Committee voted last Friday to suspend Redus for two weeks without pay and place her on a year-long probation period. Redus was not at the meeting to present her side to the committee, but in a statement dated May 9, 2012, Redus claims she did not receive notice of the meeting, thus explaining her absence.
"I was not informed that any disciplinary action against me was being considered, nor was I notified that a committee hearing would be held on Friday morning May 4, 2012, I did not appear because notice was not provided."
Redus also included an alternative explanation of events to those outlined by Parker's report.
According to a statement from Redus, she has not made any untruthful statements, neither to her supervisor nor anyone else involved in this matter.
Redus affirms she was in an accident, that she and her son were transported by Sheriff's Deputies to the hospital where her son underwent surgery.
Redus also acknowledges she was notified she needed to submit to a drug and alcohol test. However, Redus claims when she inquired with hospital staff about the test, she was told either a physician or agency would have to authorize the request as the hospital did not conduct tests on an individual request.
"She [the member of hospital staff] further informed me that the types of drugs to be tested for would also need to be authorized. I then requested to be tested for all drugs illegal and prescription," Redus' statement reads. "I then requested to be tested for all drugs illegal and prescription. The nurse advised me that any drug test would still need to be authorized, and no authorization had been given by the city supervisor at that time."
Redus claims she informed the staff she would be in the waiting area during her son's surgery, but she said she never received notification of authorization for the test.
"I was unfamiliar with the city's drug testing policy and or procedure, but assumed that my supervisor was as she instructed me to take the test," Redus' statement says. "I further assumed my supervisor was aware that she would have to authorize JRMC to perform the drug test and that I would be notified once arrangement for testing was completed."
According to Redus, she plans to appeal the Personnel Committee's decision with her statement reading, "I have elected to appeal the disciplinary actions taken against me and look forward to setting the record straight."
According to the city drug and alcohol policy an employee who refuses to submit to or obstructs the processes of a drug/alcohol test when notified by a supervisor that it is required will be terminated.
