State Ex Rel. Richey v. Neenah Police & Fire Commission

180 N.W.2d 743, 48 Wis. 2d 575, 1970 Wisc. LEXIS 947
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 3, 1970
Docket217
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 180 N.W.2d 743 (State Ex Rel. Richey v. Neenah Police & Fire Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State Ex Rel. Richey v. Neenah Police & Fire Commission, 180 N.W.2d 743, 48 Wis. 2d 575, 1970 Wisc. LEXIS 947 (Wis. 1970).

Opinions

[580]*580Wilkie, J.

Three issues are presented by. this appeal:

1. Was the respondent denied due process of law by the suspension of Rule 27 ?

2. Did the Board impose its will rather than its judgment in dismissing respondent in that one of its members had prejudged the case before the hearing?

3. Did the circuit court err in not considering the evidence adduced at the hearing of April 22, 1969?

1. Due process. The Board of Fire & Police Commissioners of the city of Neenah was, in this action, performing a quasi-judicial function, and in such cases the requirements of due process are clearly applicable.1

“[T]he cardinal and ultimate test of the presence or absence of due process of law in any administrative proceeding is the presence or absence of the ‘rudiments of fair play long known to our law.’ ” 2

The necessary elements were set out by this court in State ex rel. Arnold v. Common Council: 3

“. . . There are at least three substantial elements of a common-law hearing: (1) the right to seasonably know the charges or claims preferred; (2) the right to meet such charges or claims by competent evidence; and (3) the right to be heard by counsel upon the probative force of the evidence adduced by both sides and upon the law applicable thereto. If either of these rights is denied a party, he does not have the substantials of a common-law hearing. Ekern v. McGovern, 154 Wis. 157, 277 et seq., 142 N. W. 595, and cases cited.” 4

Sec. 62.13 (5), Stats., provides procedural steps to be followed in proceedings against a member of a municipal police department. This subsection clearly embodies the [581]*581“substantial elements” of a common-law hearing set out above, by providing for the filing of a written formal charge by the chief of police, the Board or a member thereof, or by an elector; 5 a public hearing at which the officer may be represented by counsel and may subpoena witnesses; 6 and an appeal to the circuit court.7 The procedure outlined in this subsection has been held by this court to meet the requirements of due process.8

Here the provisions of sec. 62.18 (5), Stats., were complied with, as well as the standards set down by this court as necessary for a common-law hearing.9 The chief of police, after two discussions with respondent about the conduct in question, filed a written charge with the Board; respondent had a public hearing at which he was represented by counsel; he was allowed to present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and argue his view of the facts.

Respondent, however, contends that because the Board is empowered by statute to promulgate additional rules,10 and since the Board did promulgate additional rules, specifically Rule 27, supra, the temporary suspension of this rule shortly before the hearing constituted a denial of due process. Clearly sec. 62.13 (5) (g), Stats., provides the power to make additional rules “for the administration of this subsection.” However, while the temporary suspension of Rule 27 in the absence of re[582]*582spondent, clearly an interested party, without notice may constitute a breach of contract and perhaps an unfair labor practice, that question is not before this court. The question of whether such action by the Board constituted a violation of due process requirements compels a negative answer. Clearly the standards outlined above were met. If satisfying these requirements satisfies due process, the failure to satisfy an additional administrative requirement has little to do with due process.

Moreover, Eule 27 was substantially complied with, at least insofar as it contains elements necessary to due process. Eule 27 requires a written complaint which may be filed with the Board by “any other member” of the police force, “with specifications.” In this case the charge was filed by the chief of police, signed by him, and, under the circumstances, contained sufficient specifications. It charges that respondent “did on the 4th day of March, 1969, at approximately 9:30 p. m., conduct himself in a manner unbecoming a police officer.” It is true that the details of the conduct are not set forth. However, it has often been stated that charges in such proceedings need not be technically drawn nor meet the requirements of a criminal indictment.11 And this court has held that “conduct unbecoming an officer” is not too vague to define a cause for discharge.12

In any event, no objection was made at the time of the hearing, or since, that the charge lacked sufficient specificity. Eather, respondent objected to the suspension of Eule 27 on the ground that it violated a condition of employment.

“Objections to the sufficiency of the charge may be waived .... And on appeal from a judgment of dismissal, complaint cannot be made that the charges were [583]*583indefinite where no timely request had been made that they be made certain.” 13

This court has held with regard to criminal complaints that objections to the validity of the complaint may be waived by failure to raise them,14 and a collateral attack on a complaint will be liberally construed in favor of jurisdiction.15 If the criminally accused can reasonably be held to a waiver of the insufficiency of the charges in a criminal case, we see no reason why the respondent here, in this Board proceeding to discipline him for conduct unbecoming a police officer, should not also be considered to have waived any claim he may have had to the insufficiency of the charges made against him.

Perhaps respondent did not seek more details here about the particular charge and specifications because of the two conferences that he had had with the chief of police at which he was informed of the complaint and the details thereof. We must conclude, therefore, that since (1) the essential elements of a common-law hearing were present; (2) the statutory provisions which satisfy due process requirements were complied with; (3) there was substantial compliance with Rule 27, at least insofar as those portions of the rule relating to the elements of due process were met; and (4) respondent waived any objection he had to the insufficiency of the charge, the circuit court’s holding that respondent was “denied the right of due process” was erroneous.

2. Prejudgment. On August 5, 1969, during proceedings on the appeal from the decision of the Board, the circuit court remanded the case pursuant to sec. 62.13 (5) (i), Stats., for the taking of further evidence on the [584]*584question of prejudgment by a member of the Board. The court also informed respondent that the issue of due process was properly to be raised by a petition for a writ of certiorari. Subsequently, and while the appeal was pending before the court, the respondent filed a petition for a writ of certiorari.

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Bluebook (online)
180 N.W.2d 743, 48 Wis. 2d 575, 1970 Wisc. LEXIS 947, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-richey-v-neenah-police-fire-commission-wis-1970.