SHASTA COUNTY DEPUTY
REINSTATED
Arbitrator William Riker has overturned the termination of Shasta
County Deputy Sheriff, reinstating him with back pay.
The case arose in April of 1996 when the Shasta County Sheriff's
Department initiated an investigation against Deputy John Patrick
Kropholler for alleged improprieties in testing a female inmate for
being under the influence of drugs. Ultimately, the County terminated
Kropholler's employment in September of 1996. The matter went to hearing
for six days in January and February of 1997.
In his decision overturning the termination, the arbitrator found
Kropholler's denial of the improprieties to be credible and further
opined that the "event," as alleged, "would be simply out
of character when compared to Kropholler's work ethics and rigidity in
adhering to the Shasta County Sheriff's Department rules and
regulations.
Legal Defense Fund panel attorney Bill Williams, who represented
Kropholler, said it was an unusual case, stating: "This case was
not so unusual because of the allegations of bizarre improprieties, but
rather because we were able to present so much credible evidence that
directly conflicted with the County's case. Usually, while there may be
conflicting evidence, the employer and the employee have some areas of
agreement, but in this case there were straight up disputes regarding
almost every allegation. Ultimately, I think the arbitrator was swayed
by Deputy Kropholler's credibility and his fine work record."
Deputy Kropholler is extremely grateful to the Legal Defense Fund for
the representation provided to him. "I can't thank LDF enough for
the excellent representation that I was provided. I learned in the
course of this case how much work goes into the preparation and defense
of an employee. There were days of preparation involving not only my
attorney, but a private investigator and my attorney's paralegal.
Without the resources of the Legal Defense Fund, an individual employee
could simply not afford the type of quality representation which I
received from beginning to end in this case. I especially want to thank
my attorney, Bill Williams, paralegal, Annette Kenney Artinian, and
private investigator Jim Gilhula for their fine work and support of me
throughout this ordeal."
