Ruby Hearing Reveals Embarassing Facts About Sheriff's Department

Controversy continues over the firing of a Webster County Deputy last year. The Webster County Civil Service Commission is currently weighing evidence presented in a March hearing, regarding the firing of Sergeant Curt Ruby, a 28-year veteran in law enforcement. Ruby is appealing his firing by Webster County Sheriff Brian Mickelson in December last year. Transcripts of the hearings have been made public and reveal a weak and disorganized case by the Sheriff’s Department, as well as a number of embarrassing revelations about the department. (Go to http://www.curtrubyhearing.com to read the transcripts and other evidence.) Mickelson said Ruby was fired for having a temper and for actions he had made on the job. Ruby said his firing was an attempt to discredit him as he plans to run against Mickelson for sheriff in this year’s election. Bridget Penick, an attorney from Des Moines, presented evidence for Brian Mickelson as the Webster County Attorney had refused to represent the Sheriff’s Department in this case. In their testimony, Sheriff Mickelson, Chief Deputy Jim O’Brien, as well as deputies Luke Fleener and Michael Halligan and others accused Ruby of being derelict in duty, disrespectful to his superiors and having anger issues. The most serious of Mickelson’s charges included not following proper procedures in three separate domestic abuse calls, allowing a shift he was responsible for to have only one officer on duty, and making threats against the Sheriff. Under cross-examination by Ruby’s attorney, Roxanne Conlin, both Mickelson and Chief Deputy Jim O’Brien admitted that they had not investigated their charges against Ruby, or properly documented them, as is required by the Webster County Sheriff’s Department general orders. As the hearings progressed and evidence was presented, both men admitted under cross-examination that at least some of the charges they had leveled against Sergeant Ruby were not actually violations of the department’s general orders. Click headline for full story