Former Morrow Police Chief Jeffery Baker has a slim chance of ever being a cop in Georgia again.
That is what the director of the statewide organization that certifies policeman said Friday following a vote to revoke Baker’s certification.
“Without the certification, he can’t be a sworn police officer in Georgia,” Kenneth Vance, executive director of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday.
“Most places that hire chiefs and things like that, part of their job description is to be certified by P.O.S.T. in Georgia,” Vance said.
Last week, in a unanimous decision, the P.O.S.T. council voted to revoke Baker’s police certification for a second time. This decision followed Baker’s arrest and subsequent firing for allegedly driving drunk in his City of Morrow police car last month.
He was found asleep at the wheel at a traffic light, less than a mile from the police station, with eight empty beer cans in the back of the car, police said.
Baker was charged with multiple offenses including driving under the influence, violating the open beverage laws and failing to obey a police officer – one of his own.
“Things like that happening to people in high position … it taints all of us,” Vance said. “The P.O.S.T. council took very decisive and deliberate action to protect the image of law enforcement in Georgia.”
Baker could not be reached Friday for comment.
He was already facing revocation from a 2008 violation, in which the P.O.S.T. council accused him of lying about taking mandatory annual firearms training. Baker appealed that decision, and the case remained unresolved.
Now, Vance said, Baker’s options are few, and those for keeping his certification are even more limited.
He has 30 days from Dec. 6 – the actual date of the recent revocation vote – to appeal the decision, Vance said.
“If he does appeal, this case will be bundled with the first appeal and will quickly head to an administrative law judge,” Vance said. “A judge won’t look too favorably on a second revocation vote.”
Any other steps available to Baker will quickly end his law enforcement career – for now.
Vance said Baker could withdraw his initial appeal, which would mean automatic revocation, or not appeal the second revocation.
“Or, he can just surrender his certification,” Vance said.
After two years, P.O.S.T. would allow Baker to petition for reinstatement.
“That’s a hard ticket,” Vance said. “But people do it, and some are successful.”
About the Author
