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SUNNY Temp: 57 °F Wind: S at 3 mph Saturday, September 27, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 23, 2003 Phoenix police officer suspended By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune PHOENIX — A veteran police officer has been suspended in the wake of struggles between the police department and city administrators. Officer John Koury is on administrative leave pending an internal investigation by the police department, according to Councilman Dan Sauro. Koury was suspended Aug. 7, Sauro said, adding that police Chief Bob Kershaw notified city officials of Koury’s status via a memo sent out Thursday. Kershaw has not stated the allegations against Koury, which would likely be discussed at the next City Council meeting on Sept. 2, according to both Sauro and Mayor Larry Parducci. Kershaw, who does not work on Friday, could not be reached for comment. "I don’t think he (Kershaw) has any authority (to place Koury on leave), but he seems to be running the city," Parducci said. Advertisement The mayor said he has not discussed Koury’s suspension with Kershaw because he doesn’t get involved with problems in individual city departments. Parducci said the city has never had any problems with Koury’s conduct in the past. Koury has been a police officer with Phoenix for the past 10 years. He was fired for undisclosed reasons from the Medford Police Department in 1992 after nine months of employment there as a probationary employee. While working for Phoenix in 1994, he was awarded a Medal of Valor by the Oregon Peace Officer’s Association for rescuing an elderly couple from their burning home. The news of Koury’s suspension follows the reinstatement last week of police Lt. Robert McKean after the City Council placed him on paid leave July 22. However, Sauro said he sees no connection between McKean’s suspension and Koury’s. Parducci said he was unsure if the two events were related. McKean’s suspension centered on activities of the police department’s Rapid Emergency Deployment team, an emergency response unit featured on a July 17 television news broadcast. The police department’s second-in-command, McKean supervises the team and gave an interview for the broadcast. A memo from City Administrator Don Walker to the police department in early 2002 called for suspension of the RED team’s activities, which Parducci called a liability to the city. Kershaw said he never saw the memo. An internal investigation by Kershaw exonerated McKean and recommended the council reinstate him. Parducci asked the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department to conduct a separate investigation, which the mayor said played a role in McKean’s reinstatement. But because the council didn’t consult him before suspending McKean, Walker resigned Monday. Walker said in his resignation letter that the mayor and council agreed they would only hire or fire city staff upon his recommendation.Under the Phoenix city charter, however, the mayor and council have the authority to hire and fire. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times