Complaint Filed over Northwest Arkansas Police Officer's Facebook Posts
By: Tyler Thomason, KNWA-TV Fayetteville
Updated: October 16, 2012
A Northwest Arkansas police officer is being criticized for comments he posted on Facebook.
"It was an inappropriate action by one of our police officers," says current Lincoln (Washington County) city councilwoman and candidate Laurie Smith.
She's referring to recent online opinions appearing under Lincoln police officer Greg Gunn's Facebook account, which seem to criticize city candidates - like herself.
Mayor Rob Hulse described the comments as protected by free speech .
But Smith still sees it as an infraction.
"According to the personnel policy, he did do something wrong," Smith says. "Just trying to shine a negative light on the candidates that are running, and that's not a conduct that's OK of a police officer."
Conduct outlined by the city's personnel policy.
"In each contact with the public, an employee must be aware that his appearance actions and statements are, in essence, those of the city," says Smith, reading from a printed off copy of the policy.
"Is that taking it to mean that the city thinks we are bad candidates?"
Smith points to a past incident -- also involving a city employee -- who she says publicly criticized city officials and as a result, received a reprimand letter.
"It was a written and verbal warning for that employe, so you know, it's all about fairness," Smith says. "I at the very least, want to see the same treatment done to him that the previous employees were."
An anonymous Lincoln citizen has filed a complaint with the Arkansas Ethics Commission in Little Rock, regarding this issue.
And Smith, who has only voiced her complaints to other city council members, has spoken with the commission about it.
"They did say that it was worth looking into had requested that we send them the information if we wanted to file a complaint," Smith says.
Lincoln mayor Rob Hulse was unavailable for interview Monday but the city did issue this statement:
"We have not seen a copy of an ethical complaint. If one has been filed, we will address our response there and not through the local media.."
Smith adds,"If they would sit and look at the personnel policy look at the letter that we've treated other employees with, how could they not see that clearly something was done wrong."
The battle between political opinion and public policy, taking a bite out of Appletown, with Election Day growing near.
Click here to watch this report.
"It was an inappropriate action by one of our police officers," says current Lincoln (Washington County) city councilwoman and candidate Laurie Smith.
She's referring to recent online opinions appearing under Lincoln police officer Greg Gunn's Facebook account, which seem to criticize city candidates - like herself.
Mayor Rob Hulse described the comments as protected by free speech .
But Smith still sees it as an infraction.
"According to the personnel policy, he did do something wrong," Smith says. "Just trying to shine a negative light on the candidates that are running, and that's not a conduct that's OK of a police officer."
Conduct outlined by the city's personnel policy.
"In each contact with the public, an employee must be aware that his appearance actions and statements are, in essence, those of the city," says Smith, reading from a printed off copy of the policy.
"Is that taking it to mean that the city thinks we are bad candidates?"
Smith points to a past incident -- also involving a city employee -- who she says publicly criticized city officials and as a result, received a reprimand letter.
"It was a written and verbal warning for that employe, so you know, it's all about fairness," Smith says. "I at the very least, want to see the same treatment done to him that the previous employees were."
An anonymous Lincoln citizen has filed a complaint with the Arkansas Ethics Commission in Little Rock, regarding this issue.
And Smith, who has only voiced her complaints to other city council members, has spoken with the commission about it.
"They did say that it was worth looking into had requested that we send them the information if we wanted to file a complaint," Smith says.
Lincoln mayor Rob Hulse was unavailable for interview Monday but the city did issue this statement:
"We have not seen a copy of an ethical complaint. If one has been filed, we will address our response there and not through the local media.."
Smith adds,"If they would sit and look at the personnel policy look at the letter that we've treated other employees with, how could they not see that clearly something was done wrong."
The battle between political opinion and public policy, taking a bite out of Appletown, with Election Day growing near.
Click here to watch this report.
