An administrative hearing officer has affirmed the firing of a former Nevada Taxicab Authority airport control officer for lying to superiors, insubordination and violation of agency policies.
State Personnel Commission administrative hearing officer Bill Kockenmeister issued his ruling on Scott Lewis in a 26-page decision following hearings in January 2010, December and April.
Lewis’ lawyer, Adam Graff of Nelson Law, said he has not made a decision whether to file a petition for judicial review in District Court. Lewis would have 90 days to consider an appeal.
The decision upheld the firing of Lewis by former Taxicab Authority Administrator Gordon Walker in March 2009.
Kockenmeister sustained six of nine violations by Lewis, who said he was targeted by Walker for exposing corruption in the Taxicab Authority to the news media.
With the testimony of 16 witnesses and 68 documents, Kockenmeister determined that Lewis violated administrative codes and Business and Industry Department policies with multiple instances of dishonesty, the discourteous treatment of fellow employees, neglect in performing his duties, disgraceful personal conduct, which causes discredit to the agency, negligence by failing to follow instructions of no secondary employment and insubordination.
Testimony determined that Lewis misrepresented his position with the Taxicab Authority to the Public Safety Department in pursuit of information about Taxicab Authority administrators, including Walker.
The ruling said the evidence “establishes that one finding of dishonesty is sufficient to justify termination of a peace officer and thus, the termination of (the) employee has been shown to be for the good of the public service.”