Demoted Benton County deputy files grievance

BENTONVILLE -- Tiffany DeVore, an employee at the Benton County Jail, claims in a grievance she was demoted for exercising her right to free speech. She also claims gender discrimination in documents filed with the county Wednesday.

DeVore said she was a disciplinary sergeant at the jail until she was demoted May 13. She asks to be reinstated, seeks payment for lost wages and "compensation for all other damages and any related costs and expenses."

About the Grievance Council

The Grievance Council considers claims of illegal discrimination or that the county acted in an arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable manner; claims any employee treatment is unconstitutional punishment due to the employee exercising a constitutionally protected right; and claims that any employee treatment, discipline or dismissal is contrary to the public policy of Arkansas. The council’s findings and recommendations are advisory and not binding on any elected official. The council is comprised of five justices of the peace appointed by the county judge. Members are Michelle Chiocco, Joel Jones, Shirley Sandlin, Susan Anglin and Kurt Moore.

Source: Staff report

DeVore said she hasn't received any documentation or correspondence about her demotion, but was told by two supervisors it was "due to 'restructuring' at the Sheriff's Office as a result of the 'new administration'" under Sheriff Meyer Gilbert, the grievance states.

Gilbert was appointed by the Quorum Court to serve out the remainder of Kelley Cradduck's term after Cradduck agreed to resign last month. Cradduck faced felony and misdemeanor tampering charges. He entered a no-contest plea to the misdemeanor charge and the felony charge was dropped.

DeVore said in her grievance Capt. Lynn Hahn and Lt. Robin Holt told her she was a "great" employee and "that my job performance was great."

DeVore claims she was demoted because she made comments in support of Paul Pillaro and Glenn Latham.

Pillaro ran for sheriff in the Republic Party primary in March. Latham is running for sheriff as an independent candidate in the November general election. DeVore said she has also made comments critical of Shawn Holloway, who won the Republican Party nomination for sheriff defeating Cradduck, Pillaro and Timothy Filbeck. Gilbert has named Holloway chief deputy for the Sheriff's Office. DeVore said she also criticized Kevin Harrison, justice of the peace, a supporter of Holloway.

DeVore said Holloway became angry when someone told Cradduck he visited the jail "for what appeared to be a campaign trip" and Holloway blamed her. She denied telling Cradduck that Holloway was at the jail, the grievance states.

DeVore claims in the grievance her demotion constitutes gender discrimination "in the form of disparate treatment and hostile work environment."

She also claims the demotion is a form of retaliation by Holt, saying she lodged "no less than three complaints against Lt. Holt, but there has been no recourse." DeVore claims her husband, Tim DeVore, also a Sheriff's Office employee, complained about Holt and she participated in an investigation of another employee's complaint about Holt's behavior, saying "To my knowledge, Lt. Holt was never reprimanded."

Gilbert and Holloway didn't respond to phone calls seeking comment.

"We encourage all employees to follow policy and procedure, this situation will be no different," Keshia Guyll, public information officer with the Sheriff's Office, wrote in the email. "Deputy DeVore is entitled to file a grievance with Benton County. The Sheriff's Office will cooperate fully with the grievance process. We will not issue any further statement until a determination is made by the Benton County Grievance Council on whether there will be a hearing on this issue."

George Spence, county attorney, said he couldn't comment on the details of the grievance. County policy calls for the grievance to be forwarded to the Grievance Council, which will decide whether to hold a hearing on the matter.

Michelle Chiocco, chairman of the Grievance Council, said Wednesday details of the grievance were unclear.

"I read it and it was kind of confusing," Chiocco said. "I understood where she was going with the deprivation of the First Amendment rights, but I didn't understand where she was going with the gender discrimination."

Harrison said he didn't know DeVore. He also said he hadn't seen the grievance and couldn't comment on any of the allegations.

"I don't know her and if I've ever met her I don't remember it," Harrison said. "I have no earthly idea whether she's said anything about me or not."

NW News on 05/19/2016

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