Woman at center of Foxworth scandal faces termination
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Union officials say the Portland Police Bureau's performance review board has recommended firing desk clerk Angela Oswalt for reasons unrelated to her sexual relationship with former Chief Derrick Foxworth.
Union representative James Hester told The Oregonian newspaper on Wednesday that the recommendation is based on Oswalt's alleged spreading of rumors, an off-duty driving incident and her refusal to answer the questions of internal investigators because they were about union matters.
Hester said not one of the reasons is valid. Oswalt is the vice president of AFSCME Local 189, the union representing civilian police employees. Hester claims the review board's action is retaliation against the union.
The board's recommendation will go to Police Chief Rosie Sizer and then Mayor Tom Potter, who will make the final decision. If she is fired, Oswalt could appeal to an arbitrator.
Oswalt and Foxworth began an 18-month relationship in 2000. She made the relationship, and a series of X-rated e-mails, public in 2006, when she filed a notice of intent to sue. Though the relationship was consensual, she accused Foxworth of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.
Foxworth, who was not chief during the relationship, was demoted to commander during the scandal.
Oswalt was put on paid administrative leave last April, two months after she was informed that she was under investigation because of two citizen complaints about her off-duty conduct and one about her conduct at work.
Union officials said they filed an unfair-labor-practice complaint against the city, claiming the bureau was wrongfully interfering with Oswalt and the union's rights.
A police spokesman declined to comment about the situation because it's a pending personnel matter.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Union representative James Hester told The Oregonian newspaper on Wednesday that the recommendation is based on Oswalt's alleged spreading of rumors, an off-duty driving incident and her refusal to answer the questions of internal investigators because they were about union matters.
Hester said not one of the reasons is valid. Oswalt is the vice president of AFSCME Local 189, the union representing civilian police employees. Hester claims the review board's action is retaliation against the union.
The board's recommendation will go to Police Chief Rosie Sizer and then Mayor Tom Potter, who will make the final decision. If she is fired, Oswalt could appeal to an arbitrator.
Oswalt and Foxworth began an 18-month relationship in 2000. She made the relationship, and a series of X-rated e-mails, public in 2006, when she filed a notice of intent to sue. Though the relationship was consensual, she accused Foxworth of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.
Foxworth, who was not chief during the relationship, was demoted to commander during the scandal.
Oswalt was put on paid administrative leave last April, two months after she was informed that she was under investigation because of two citizen complaints about her off-duty conduct and one about her conduct at work.
Union officials said they filed an unfair-labor-practice complaint against the city, claiming the bureau was wrongfully interfering with Oswalt and the union's rights.
A police spokesman declined to comment about the situation because it's a pending personnel matter.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)