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Holmboe's thrilled to be back Photo by Bob Pennell Former Police Chief Katie Holmboe returned to the streets of Gold Hill for the first time in years Tuesday after winning her case against the city for wrongful dismissal in August 1997. With her is her Teamsters Union representative, Wayne Botta. Arbitrator's ruling reinstating Gold Hill police chief pleases mayor, too By SARA MURPHY GOLD HILL -- After nearly three years of failed attempts to hire a new police chief, the city is back to the chief it started with. A Portland arbitrator has ruled that Katie Holmboe was fired without just cause and denied due process by the City Council when her employment was terminated in August 1997. The decision reinstates Holmboe to the position and awards her back pay and benefits. The back pay alone will add up to about $75,000. "I was ecstatic," Holmboe said of the ruling. "I laughed, I cried, I jumped for joy. I was just very, very happy." Holmboe, who has been working odd jobs since she was fired and spent more than a year camping at Fish Lake, says she plans to go back to work soon. "I've been asked to come back and that's my direction," she said. Holding the hand of her husband, Chuck, at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Holmboe said she feels vindicated by the arbitrator's decision and thanked those who have supported her. "I'm really happy and glad to see that it's finally over," she said. Holmboe, 52, had served as Gold Hill's police chief for almost 12 years when she was fired by the City Council over an alleged ticket-fixing scandal and charges of insubordination. Arbitrator William Dorsey ruled that the city officials violated Holmboe's right to due process when they refused to provide her with a written statement detailing the charges made against her. He also concluded that Holmboe's two accusers, neither of whom testified under oath, were not credible witnesses and that the city lacked just cause for her discharge. "There was no doubt in our minds from the beginning it was a malicious act on the part of some members of the community to terminate Katie Holmboe," said Wayne Botta, labor representative for the Teamsters Union Local 233. The union filed the grievance on behalf of Holmboe, who is a member. The mayor and City Council members are all new to the council since Holmboe was fired, and she feels optimistic about the new group. "Councils come and go, changing faces," Holmboe said. "I feel that I was very good at what I did and I plan to pick up and continue." While the city lost the legal battle, Mayor Tim Roddam said he's looking forward to welcoming Holmboe back. "It's a big relief," Roddam said. "Since she was terminated, there has been nothing but turmoil." Holmboe's successor, Dave Crawford, was convicted of misdemeanor crimes and fired in June. Since that time, the City Council -- which also serves as the city's personnel committee -- has interviewed candidates three times but failed to find a chief. Last month the city contracted with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department for law enforcement. Roddam said the council will continue to honor that contract, which allows either party to terminate with 30 days' notice, until details are worked out with Holmboe. "I've been eating and breathing this police issue for a whole year and now it's finally put to rest," Roddam said. Roddam said the council will meet with Holmboe soon to discuss her return to work and whether any training is in order. "Obviously we'll have to get together with her and make sure she's healthy and ready," he said. "Other than that, she can come back any time." While several of the city's residents waved and welcomed Holmboe back as she walked through town for the first time in two years Tuesday, not everybody is pleased with the chief's reinstatement. "She's bad for this town and she's made a mockery of law enforcement," said Christine Alford, who lodged more than a dozen complaints against Holmboe before she was fired. "I guess she'll keep doing it." Alford, a member of the city's budget committee, also questioned how the city will be able to pay Holmboe's back wages and benefits, which will likely cost about $100,000. Roddam said the money will come from the general fund, most likely by borrowing from other departments. Alford said that's not a feasible option and predicts the city will have to put a tax levy on the November ballot. "Roddam is under the illusion that there's this big pile of money (in the general fund) like there is in the federal government, but there isn't in Oregon," she said. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA