1541.11 Felony conviction precludes or terminates employment. - Ohio Statutes

1541.11 Felony conviction precludes or terminates employment.

(A) As used in this section, “felony” has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The chief of the division of parks and recreation shall not designate a person as a park officer under section 1541.10 of the Revised Code on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the person previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(2)(a) The chief of the division of parks and recreation shall terminate the employment as a park officer of a person designated as a park officer under section 1541.10 of the Revised Code if that person does either of the following:

(i) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(ii) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the park officer agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to the park officer under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(b) The chief shall suspend from employment as a park officer a person designated as a park officer if that person is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the park officer files an appeal from that conviction and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the park officer does not file a timely appeal, the chief shall terminate the employment of that park officer. If the park officer files an appeal that results in the park officer’s acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against the park officer, the chief shall reinstate that park officer. A park officer who is reinstated under division (B)(2)(b) of this section shall not receive any back pay unless that park officer’s conviction of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict the park officer of the felony.

(3) Division (B) of this section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1997.

(4) The suspension from employment, or the termination of the employment, of a park officer under division (B)(2) of this section shall be in in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004