The Logan County district judge upheld an arbitrator’s ruling from November 2014 in the case against former Guthrie police officer Mark Bruning, who was fired despite an arbitrator’s ruling he should not have been terminated.
“For whatever reason the political people want to play games. We will play games as long as they want to play it because at the end of the day they’re (City of Guthrie) just going to write a big check,” Bruning’s atttorney Scott Adams said outside the courtroom.
On Wednesday, District Judge Philip Corley ruled the arbitrator did not go outside his scope or the collective bargaining agreement in making his decision.
In Nov. 2014, arbitrator Mark Reed found fault in both parties and ruled the City of Guthrie wrongfully terminated Bruning and that he be suspended for six months without pay. In addition, the City was to reinstate Bruning back to the department in the same position (lieutenant) when he was terminated along with back pay. Related story: Arbitrator finds fault in firing of police officer; Bruning cleared to go back to work
Despite the arbitrators ruling, the Guthrie city council voted unanimously not to reinstate Bruning back onto the police force in a December 2014 council meeting. Related story: City rejects arbitrator’s decision to reinstate Lt. Mark Bruning
Bruning was accused of abusing his power when he had his wife’s ex-husband arrested at the Sept. 2013 Mumford & Sons concert. Related story: Guthrie police officer terminated on Monday
“We had to go through arbitration, we won there. We now have had to go through district court and we won here. I’m assuming that the City wants to continue to throw money at this thing. The sad part is the only one who is going end up paying all of this is all the tax payers in Logan County,” Adams said.
Adams says the City has a vendetta against Bruning, but is quick to say Bruning will be victorious and back at the Guthrie Police Department.
“We are going to be victorious in the end. We are victorious every time we show up. They can’t stop us. They’re not going to stop Lt. Bruning from getting back on the streets and protecting this community.”
The attorney, who represented the City of Guthrie, had no comment as he left the courtroom.
Adams now says it’s up to the City to decide what they want to do next.
“A lot of this relies on the decisions of the policy makers here in Guthrie. If they (City) want to continue to sit here and do this to the taxpayers and everyone in Logan County is going to let them do it, I’m assuming they will (keep appealing) until the taxpayers start raising hell and saying this is wrong,” Adams concluded with.
Related story: Fired police officer wants his job back; case going to arbitration
Related story: No decision made on the future of a Guthrie police officer
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