A McAlester police officer who was fired in September after his arrest for drunk driving will be back on the job Saturday.
Chris Morris returns to his post as a police sergeant following a May 12 arbitration hearing through the police union. McAlester Police Chief Jim Lyles was notified earlier this week of the decision to reinstate Morris with full back pay, except for a 10-day suspension.
“He’s back right now,” Lyles said Thursday. “He’s on days off right now. He will start at 7 a.m. Saturday morning.”
“It feels good. I feel like I got my life back,” Morris said this morning.
Prior to his arrest, Morris had been selected as the Officer of the Year for the McAlester Police Department and served as president of local FOP Lodge 97, which represents members of the police department.
Morris also served as sergeant in charge of the overnight patrol shift and as a SWAT team commander.
Morris was first placed on paid suspension and then was terminated by the police department after his Aug. 10 arrest for driving while under the influence of alcohol, failure to signal and failure to stop at a stop sign. The 12-year veteran had been off duty and singing with a band at the local Elks Lodge before his arrest.
Morris pleaded no contest on Oct. 21 to the misdemeanor DUI and traffic charges and judgment and sentencing were deferred for a year. He was also fined $200 and was ordered to attend a Victim’s Impact Panel and DUI school, and to obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.
City Manager Mark Roath said Morris filed a grievance under the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the police union. “It required an arbitration hearing, and evidence was presented on both sides and the ruling was in his favor,” Roath said.
Lyles was among several people who testified at the May 12 hearing at City Hall. Others included arresting officer Greg Read, Capt. Shawn Smith, Lt. Jeff McKee, Morris and officer Bobby Coggins, who testified as a union witness.
“It was quite lengthy,” Lyles said of the hearing.
Morris said this morning he had been cautioned by his Fraternal Order of Police union attorney against discussing the case, but he was glad to be back at work.
“There’s so much more to this story that people don’t know about,” he said. “But the attorney said to just leave it.”
State FOP Attorney Jim Moore of Oklahoma City did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
An arbitration signed by Charles Greer of Fort Worth, Texas, states Morris’ firing violated the city’s collective bargaining agreement with the FOP because the city did not have cause to terminate Morris.
“While the Grievant’s conduct violated City rules and regulations, termination was too severe,” Greer wrote in his conclusion. “However, the Grievant should not take this decision for reinstatement as an endorsement of his conduct. As a police officer he has a responsibility to refrain from the conduct that led to his operation of a vehicle with an excessive amount of alcohol in his system and to conduct himself in a manner that does not discredit the Police Department and his fellow officers.”
Morris tested a .08 breath alcohol content, according to Read.
In his arresting affidavit Read said he had been alerted before Morris left the Elks Lodge that Morris had “drank quite a few beers.”
The arbitration ruling reinstates Morris to his former position, reduces his termination to a 10-day suspension without pay, and rules Morris “to be made whole with back pay, seniority, and benefits to which he was entitled, less the ten-day period of his unpaid suspension.”
“Yes, that is fair,” Morris said this morning.
Contact Kandra Wells at kwells@mcalesternews.com.
Local News
Fired officer back on the beat
- Local News
-
-
Foul tasting water won't last
McAlester’s drinking water is safe to drink and the color, taste and smell will improve soon, according to Pete Stasiak McAlester city manager.
-
Alexix Futisha is named Little Miss Choctaw
McAlester’s Alexis Futisha has been named Little Miss Choctaw for District 11.
-
From the Capitol: Talk about fiscal irresponsibility
Will Rogers said, “I love a dog — he does nothing for political reasons.”
-
Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma signs lease in McAlester
The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma has found a location and will be moving to McAlester possibly as soon as July, according to Susan Tilkin director of communications for the organization.
-
Rescued horses doing well
Quarter horses rescued in July by the Pittsburg County Sheriffs department are doing well, according to Joel Kerns Pittsburg County Sheriff.
-
Lt. Gov. Lamb lauds region for Work Ready Certification
Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb stopped by the Kiamichi Technology Center in McAlester on Friday to help celebrate the teaming of 15 Southeastern Oklahoma counties as Oklahoma’s Premier Certified Work Ready Region.
-
School board president steps down
A seat on McAlester Public School’s Board of Education has been vacated by President Anne Walker, who has left the position after 15 years, according to MPS Public Relations Specialist Debbie Watkins.
-
From the Capitol: OSP closing F cellhouse
Monday evening the governor put out a press release titled, “Budget Deal Reached: Fallin and Legislative Leaders Announce Fiscally Conservative Budget with Targeted Funding Increases.”
-
Three local men dismissed from grand theft charges
Three Pittsburg County men were dismissed from theft related charges Monday (May 21) in Pittsburg County District Court.
-
Gas prices down, police patrols up for Memorial weekend
Gas prices are down this Memorial weekend but the people expected to be on the road is up and so are the number of patrol officers on duty.
- More Local News Headlines
-




