Appeals Court issues ruling in Rob Sanders case
A three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District Tuesday reversed Cole County Judge Pat Joyce’s order to reinstate former Columbia police officer Rob Sanders. The three-judge panel ruled on procedural grounds, saying the Cole County Circuit Court did not have statutory authority to consider review of the Sanders case as a contested one.
The Appeals Court has remanded the Sanders case to Joyce for a new, or revised order. The ruling remands the case for judicial review of the matter as a noncontested case.
In 2011, Sanders was accused of shoving inmate Kenneth Baker in a holding cell. He was fired and was charged with assault. In October 2013, Sanders was acquitted of assault in court.
The Columbia Police Officers Association issued a press release after Tuesday’s ruling, which read in part: “The takeaway from today’s decision of the Court seems quite clear. The city of Columbia is not conducting proper hearings. They are, according to the court, mere ‘window dressing.'”
The Missouri Court of Appeals Western District heard oral arguments in the Sanders case in October at the Mizzou School of Law. The three-judge panel heard three cases that day. They heard attorneys argue whether the trials had errors, which should cause them to be retried, or the trial court’s judgment reversed.
Sanders was a Columbia police officer who was fired by Columbia city manager Mike Matthes in 2011 after an evidentiary hearing and recommendations from Columbia’s Personnel Advisory Board. Sanders filed a petition for judicial review in the circuit court, and the Cole County Circuit Court reversed Columbia’s decision and reinstated Sanders. Columbia appealed.
This is a developing story. ABC 17’s Lucas Geisler will attempt to speak to both sides Tuesday, and Lucas will have updates on our newscasts and on our website.
