Elberta Police officer fired for offensive language, breach of policy

By CATHY HIGGINS Onlooker Editor onlooker@gulfcoastnewspapers.com
Posted 8/2/13

ELBERTA, Ala. — The town of Elberta terminated Police Officer Ric Rouse this week.

Following a special executive session Wednesday evening, the Town Council unanimously voted to dismiss Ric Rouse from the Elberta Police Department.

“We had …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get the gift of local news. All subscriptions 50% off for a limited time!

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Elberta Police officer fired for offensive language, breach of policy

Posted

ELBERTA, Ala. — The town of Elberta terminated Police Officer Ric Rouse this week.

Following a special executive session Wednesday evening, the Town Council unanimously voted to dismiss Ric Rouse from the Elberta Police Department.

“We had several assertions that people had made,” Elberta Mayor Marvin Williams said in an interview.

Among them was Rouse’s use of racially offensive language, an issue that had been addressed previously in 2012.

“There was an incident in his record,” Williams said.

Therefore, when Elberta Police Chief Stan DeVane took office in the spring of 2012 he conducted sensitivity training for Elberta staff and municipal leaders.

Williams stressed the importance of not using racially offensive language.

“In today’s society, you can’t do that,” he said.

The mayor also said action was taken because town policies were broken. One policy involved Rouse’s failure to follow procedures after a vehicular accident.

“If you get into an accident, you’re supposed to contact your supervisor immediately and submit to a drug test within two hours,” Williams said.

Rouse had worked as a full-time officer with the Elberta Police Department for the past three years and part time for at least two years before that. His dismissal means the second recent loss of an officer.

“We had already lost one of our officers to Orange Beach,” Williams said.

Including DeVane, the Elberta Police Department has six law-enforcement officers. Williams said efforts are under way to fill the two vacancies.

“We’re interviewing anybody whom is APOSCT (Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission) certified,” he said.