Posted 10:33 am Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Cherokee County Employee Placed On Paid Administrative Leave
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
RUSK -- A Cherokee County employee has been placed on a 9-month paid administrative leave months after she filed a complaint against a Texas Department of Public Safety sergeant.
Staff Writer
RUSK -- A Cherokee County employee has been placed on a 9-month paid administrative leave months after she filed a complaint against a Texas Department of Public Safety sergeant.
Jo Anna Miles, who was doing clerical work at the Jacksonville DPS office, claimed that Sgt. Thomas Bledsoe exposed himself to her Feb. 3. Bledsoe was found not guilty of indecent exposure, a class B misdemeanor, last month.
According to information from DPS, Bledsoe now works at a Crockett office.
According to information from DPS, Bledsoe now works at a Crockett office.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Kelly Traylor said DPS no longer needed a county employee in the Jacksonville DPS office, so commissioners had to decide what to do about Ms. Miles' employment.
"We decided the best thing for us to do would be administrative leave unless something else
(another clerical position)
in the county would come up. We didn't feel it was right to terminate her just because DPS didn't need her," he said.
in the county would come up. We didn't feel it was right to terminate her just because DPS didn't need her," he said.
Robert Davis, a Tyler attorney who represents the county, said the county originally budgeted 12 months for Ms. Miles' position this year.
After speaking with her attorney, it was determined that nine months would be an appropriate administrative leave. Therefore, the county gets to pay less than what was budgeted, he said.
"If, down the road, she files a lawsuit against DPS, the county no longer has to be involved," Davis said. "Her entire situation revolved around DPS and really had nothing to do with the county or county officials, so we don't want to be dragged into something we have nothing to do with."
He said he has represented the county for nearly 20 years, and officials "consistently try to do what's right."
Cherokee County Commissioners say putting Ms. Miles on a 9-month paid leave was the fair thing to do.
The county wants to work with her, especially in these tough economic times, and is trying to help her maintain her job, Traylor said.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Katherine Pinotti said Ms. Miles deserves loyalty from commissioners, so she was happy with their decision.
In the end, she said she voted to put Ms. Miles on administrative leave because she felt that is was in her best interest.
She also noted that Ms. Miles had received a raise at some point during her time with DPS, and DPS had never had any major issues with her.
"Jo Anna is a wonderful lady and a good employee," said attorney Curt Stuckey, who represents Ms. Miles. "The county is doing the right thing by paying her for nine months. Unfortunately, various DPS officials have trampled on Ms. Miles' rights and done her wrong."
Trooper Jean Dark, the Tyler District public information officer, said the agency could hire another state secretary if they need one, but don't plan to do so right now.
As for a future position with the county, Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis said Ms. Miles would keep her longevity status if she were hired in another position.
Stuckey said Ms. Miles still would like to be compensated for her losses and seek justice with DPS via a lawsuit, regardless of whether she is hired in another county position.
"She plans on seeking justice in the proper form, which is the United States Eastern District of Texas. She does appreciate Cherokee County doing the right thing," he said.
Trooper Dark declined to extensively comment on Ms. Miles' allegations or any potential lawsuit.
"Those issues will be addressed when and if they decide to bring some suit against us," she said. "We live in a litigious society. That doesn't mean anybody wins or it all works out according to plan. We have to address things as they come up, and to comment on them now would not be responsible."
