Chief wins appeal for his officer
Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A former Bella Vista police officer, released from duty after being accused of cheating on a law enforcement academy examination, will get a second chance.
Scott Vanatta, a cadet from the Bella Vista Police Department, was dismissed in mid-May from the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy after officials there said he and others had access to the answers for a test they were taking. About a week later he resigned from the Bella Vista police force.
Police Chief Jim Wozniak said from the very beginning that he believed the punishment to be too harsh and he was going to appeal at the July meeting of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.
Yesterday, at the regular quarterly commission meeting, he made his case.
The commission gave him as much time as he needed to read his four-page statement and to elaborate on some points, Wozniak said.
After having an extensive conversation with Wozniak, the seven members upheld Vanatta's dismissal, but waived a two-year exclusion from attending the academy, said Terry Bolton, commission director.
During his presentation, Wozniak argued the punishment was too severe for the crime. Essentially, the punishment - excluding him from the academy - was the equivalent of banning Vanatta from a career in law enforcement in Arkansas, the chief said.
Vanatta admitted to having the answers to a test and to passing them on to another student, Bolton said. Just having the answers is against the academy rules, he said.
However, Vanatta may have had the answers, but he didn't use them, Wozniak said.
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Wozniak said. "A lot of people become better because they get one."
Bolton said the commission decided to reinstate Vanatta for two reasons • Wozniak drove all the way to Camden to speak for the officer at the meeting, a six-hour drive.
• Wozniak was willing to give Vanatta a second chance by re-hiring him for the Bella Vista police force.
However, Wozniak said he suggested Vanatta attend the academy in Camden instead of Springdale "just so they can see what kind of kid he is."
Cadets attending in Camden must reside on campus.
The commission members agreed with his suggestion. "It's a little more difficult at Camden because these (cadets ) are under scrutiny more hours of the day," Bolton said.
Having Vanatta there will give the instructors and other school officials a chance to get to know his character better, he added.
As soon as the decision was made, officials enrolled Vanatta for the next class beginning Sept. 28, Wozniak said.
On Sept. 1, he will be hired again as a Bella Vista police officer, Wozniak said.
Bolton said if the officer completes the courses successfully, he will graduate Dec. 19.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online