Cleveland police officer suspended over drawing that ended up on traffic ticket
CLEVELAND– The FOX 8 I-Team has
learned a city police officer is drawing heat for a suggestive drawing he
sketched on a ticket book.
The police union said it was a
joke, but city administrators aren’t laughing
The officer, Vincent Schneider,
was suspended for 10 days without pay on August 28, after the woman who
received the ticket contacted police headquarters.
Police Union President Jeff
Follmer told the I-Team the officer drew the picture on a citation book that
belonged to a fellow worker. The drawing
transferred through carbon copies ending up on a ticket given to the woman.
“It was a joke. This officer
never thought this ticket book would be used, get sent out to the public,”
Follmer said.
He believes 10 days off without
pay is excessive, but the city disagrees.
The city stated the officer
violated the police department’s rules and regulations.
On the discipline letter issued
to the officer, the city stated in part, that it was determined by the Civilian
Police Review Board that the officer “engaged in unprofessional and improper
conduct and gross immorality.”
The union said they will
appeal.
“We are going to arbitration,”
Follmer said.
He said the arbitration process
could take months, but if the officer is successful he could receive back pay
for the days he was suspended.