Chief of Police Brian Manley determined that Sergeant Vetrano’s actions violated multiple policies and suspended him from duty for 3 days, from April 10, 2020 through April 12, 2020. Sergeant Vetrano engaged in an argument with his neighbor and the neighbor expressed that she felt threatened by his behavior.
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The following are the specific acts committed by Sergeant Vetrano in violation of Rule 10:
On May 24, 2018, Sergeant Christopher Vetrano, while off-duty, was involved in an
argumentative exchange with his neighbor. The argument stemmed from the way Sgt.
Vetrano was disciplining his dog in front of
. During this exchange, Sgt. Vetrano
admittedly was frustrated when he used profanity towards his dog and then towards his
neighbor. Sgt. Vetrano also acknowledged that he should have avoided the confrontation,
in which his neighbor expressed to others that she felt “threatened and terrified” by him.
By these actions, Sergeant Vetrano violated Rule 10.03(L) of the Civil Service Rules by
violating the following rules and regulations of the Austin Police Department:
� Austin
Police
Department
Policy
900.3.2:
General
Conduct
and
Responsibilities: Acts Bringing Discredit Upon the Department
900.3.2 Acts Bringing Discredit Upon the Department
Since the conduct of personnel both on-duty or off-duty may reflect directly upon
the Department, employees must conduct themselves at all times in a manner which
does not bring reproach, discredit, or embarrassment to the Department or to the
City.
(a)
Employees will not commit any act which tends to destroy public
confidence in, and respect for, the Department or which is
prejudicial to the good order, efficiency, or discipline of the
Department.
By copy of this memo, Sergeant Vetrano is hereby advised of this temporary suspension
and that the suspension may be appealed to the Civil Service Commission by filing with
the Director of Civil Service, within ten (10) days after receipt of a copy of this memo, a
proper notice of appeal in accordance with Section 143.010 of the Texas Local Government
Code.
By copy of this memo and as required by Section 143.057 of the Texas Local Government
Code, Sergeant Vetrano is hereby advised that such provides for an appeal to an
independent third party hearing examiner. If appeal is made to a hearing examiner, all rights
of appeal to a District Court are waived, except as provided by Subsection (j) of Section
143.057 of the Texas Local Government Code. That section states that the State District
Court may hear appeals of an award of a hearing examiner only on the grounds that the
arbitration panel was without jurisdiction or exceeded its jurisdiction, or that the order was
procured by fraud, collusion or other unlawful means. In order to appeal to a hearing
examiner, the original notice of appeal submitted to the Director of Civil Service must state
that appeal is made to a hearing examiner.