Cox v. McNeal

577 S.W.2d 881
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 16, 1979
Docket39738
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 577 S.W.2d 881 (Cox v. McNeal) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cox v. McNeal, 577 S.W.2d 881 (Mo. Ct. App. 1979).

Opinion

SMITH, Judge.

Plaintiff police officer appeals his dismissal by the Board of Police Commissioners following a hearing. The Circuit Court affirmed the action of the Board.

Rather than set forth a lengthy recitation of the evidence, we incorporate in haec ver-ba the Decision of the Board including its Statement, Findings of Fact, and Conclusions of Law and omitting its Order.

“DECISION STATEMENT

This matter was brought before the Board of Police Commissioners for a hearing on Charges and Specifications prepared and filed by the office of the Inspector of Police, Bureau of Inspections, charges dated originally July 27, 1976 and amended August 17, 1976. The matter first came for hearing on October 4, 1976, was continued *883 and resumed on November 15,16,17 and 19, 1976. A total of thirty-nine (39) witnesses were called and twenty-five (25) exhibits were admitted into evidence, including plaintiff’s exhibits one through fourteen, sixteen, seventeen, twenty, twenty-three and twenty-four, and defendant’s exhibits A through D.

Both parties received reasonable notice of the issues involved and the time and the place for the hearing. Both parties were permitted timely process for the production of witnesses and documents. The parties were each represented by legal counsel. Both parties presented oral evidence. At the conclusion of the evidence in the matter, it was taken under submission for consideration by Hearing Officer Anthony Ses-tric. Subsequently, the hearing officer submitted recommended Findings of Fact and Recommendation to this Board. Thereafter, this recommendation, the charges and specifications and the full transcript of the proceedings were reviewed and duly considered by all members of the Board of Police Commissioners: Colonel Theodore McNeal, President; Colonel Edward J. Walsh, Jr.; Colonel George T. Mchan, Jr.; and Colonel Salees Seddon. After determination of the guilt, the Board requested, received, reviewed and considered defendant’s past record with the Department.

Upon due deliberation and consideration of the charges and the plea thereof and the proof adduced, the Board in reviewing the record as a whole now makes its final decision together with the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order as exhibited.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Officer William Cox became a member of the Metropolitan St. Louis Police Department on February 3, 1958. He was assigned to the Homicide Division from October 9, 1969 to December 16, 1974.

2. Officer Cox has personally known Eugene ‘Papa’ Kirk since about 1959 and frequently, over the years, visited with him at his place of business and in his home.

3. That the Board of Police Commissioners is the governing body and chief executive body of the Police Department of the City of St. Louis, and, as such, has published and promulgated a ‘Police Manual' which establishes rules of conduct for all officers of the St. Louis Police Department.

4. Rule 7.010(c) of the Police Manual, published and promulgated by the Board of Police Commissioners of the City of St. Louis states as follows:

‘Any member of the Department shall be subject to disciplinary action for the violation of the rules of conduct set forth by the Department as herein, for the violation of other rules and regulations set out in the manual, for the violations of special orders, and for violation of the orders of a superior officer.
‘Every member of the Department shall, at all times, maintain reasonable standards of courtesy in their relations with the public and with other members of the Department and shall conduct themselves in such a manner that no discredit will be brought upon the Department in general or themselves in particular.
‘Acts contrary to good conduct shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
‘(c) Any conduct unbecoming to a member of the Department.
‘(g) Borrowing, obtaining, receiving, soliciting or accepting any money, securities, properties, or other valuable things or any credit or guarantee of credit either directly or indirectly, from any tavern keeper or proprietor, any professional bondsmen, any gambler, any person liable to arrest or complaint, any person in official capacity or free on bail or any relatives or employees of such person.’

5. Section 9.001 of the Police Manual, published and promulgated by the Board of Police Commissioners of the Gity of St. Louis reads as follows:

In addition to the specific duties of each individual rank and position, as set forth elsewhere in this manual, the following general duty provisions are applicable to all members of the Department and must be observed:

*884 ‘(g) No police information, of any nature, shall be disclosed unless it is proper and necessary under the circumstances;
‘(i) Interferring with the course of justice in any fashion whatsoever is forbidden;
‘(j) No advice or information shall be given to any arrested person, or to others for him, in relation to the defense or prosecution against him;
‘(r) Neglect of duty, improper performance of duty, sleeping or loafing while on duty, is subject to disciplinary action.’

6. That it was generally known throughout the office of the Circuit Attorney for the City of St. Louis that Eugene ‘Papa’ Kirk was a narcotics King pin, and that, at least prior to July 1, 1974, William Cox possessed a personal belief that Eugene ‘Papa’ Kirk was in fact involved in the narcotics trade in the City of St. Louis.

7. That Eugene ‘Papa’ Kirk, with others, was, in fact, heavily involved in major drug traffic within the City of St. Louis.

8. That at no time after 1968 did William Cox indicate to any member of the Office of the Circuit Attorney or to any member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department that William Cox was working with Eugene ‘Papa’ Kirk as a confidential source of information.

9. That on June 19, 1974, Alfred Scott was killed in the City of St. Louis.

10. That amongst the Police Officers assigned to the original investigation on June 19, 1974 was Officer William Cox, and that on that date, Officer Cox, with other officers, interviewed a number of witnesses at the scene of the killing and prepared a written report of their investigation.

11. That at least one witness identified one of the persons responsible for the killing as an individual known as ‘Buttons’ but that information did not appear in the Police Report prepared that night of June 19, 1974.

12. That on June 20, 1974 information concerning ‘Buttons’ became common knowledge amongst several of the Police Officers assigned to the Homicide Division of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and that information was added to the investigation report regarding the killing of Alfred Scott, by police officers other than William Cox.

13.

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Bluebook (online)
577 S.W.2d 881, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cox-v-mcneal-moctapp-1979.