John Ingersoll continues to seek former MPD post

MATTAWA – John Ingersoll, a police officer who was fired by former Mattawa Police Chief John Turkey in 2013, continues to seek a return to his former post.

Ingersoll has petitioned the Grant County Superior Court for reconsideration of its decision earlier to declare the firing as justified.

“I want my job back,” he said recently. “I was unjustly fired.”

Ingersoll clarified he wants his old job back so that his record may be cleared. He intends to apply for police work elsewhere once he’s cleared.

There will not be a hearing, Ingersoll said. He said the decision will be made from briefs, which attorneys for the city and Ingersoll must submit by Oct. 18.

Ingersoll bases his motion for reconsideration on what he says were conflicts of interest between the city and the civil service commission. It was the CSC that issued the original decision that the firing was just.

In the motion, Ingersoll said he was not notified prior to the hearing that one of the CSC members was married to a city council member and that another was married to a city employee. He claims there were other conflicts of interest.

The court turned down Ingersoll’s appeal of the CSC’s determination on Sept. 16. His motion for reconsideration claims he was denied due process in connection with the conduct of the CSC.