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Records confirm Brooks was fired By Sara Murphy ASHLAND � Public records reveal that Lisa Brooks, the city�s first female police captain and second-ranking officer, was fired Wednesday. Jackson County District Attorney Mark Huddleston ordered Ashland city officials to release a letter dated Wednesday from Police Chief Scott Fleuter to Brooks explaining his decision to terminate her employment. State experts say Brooks� termination in Ashland may also mean the end of her police career, at least in Oregon. Brooks� termination, effective at 5 p.m. Thursday, came after an internal investigation of allegations that Brooks assaulted dispatcher Mary Ann Siegel July 5 in the police station. Brooks had been on paid administrative leave since the incident. No criminal charges have been filed. "I find these violations of department and city requirements so serious that even if criminal charges are not filed, and even if a conviction is not obtained, you will no longer be able to effectively serve as a supervisor or employee of this department," Fleuter wrote. Fleuter could not be reached for comment Thursday. In the letter, Fleuter said Brooks grabbed Siegel�s right arm and twisted her wrist while both were on duty. He found that Brooks� explanation of the incident "neither justifies nor excuses (her) behavior." Fleuter wrote that Brooks� actions "constitute misconduct, malfeasance and conduct reflecting discredit upon the department." The chief also said the decision to terminate her employment after a distinguished career was not an easy call. "You are an officer with an excellent record and I have genuinely enjoyed working with you," Fleuter wrote, "but I am troubled by the misuse of authority vested in you as a police captain." Brooks, of Phoenix, joined the department in 1982 as a Police Explorer. She worked her way up the ranks from dispatcher to officer and, in 1993, became the department�s first female sergeant. Last year, Fleuter promoted her to captain. "Because of the high regard I hold for you, I truly regret having to make this decision," Fleuter wrote. To avoid any conflict of interest with local officials, the Lane County District Attorney�s office is handling the criminal investigation. Oregon State Police detectives conducted the initial investigation of the incident, which they classified as fourth-degree assault, a class A misdemeanor. A conviction on that charge would not automatically be grounds for revoking an officer�s certification, according to the state Department of Public Safety, Standards and Training administrative rules. But being terminated might, said Dianne Middle, director of the DPSST. When officers are "fired for cause," Middle said, the state police standards agency automatically begins a decertification process. Employees who are fired for cause are notified that DPSST intends to revoke their certification and have the opportunity to request a hearing. Officers who have had their certification revoked aren�t eligible for employment with other Oregon police departments, Miller said. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA