Trooper hired last year fired by State Police commission

Arkansas State Police headquarters is seen Monday shortly after a meeting in which a probationary trooper was fired for an unspecified conduct violation.
Arkansas State Police headquarters is seen Monday shortly after a meeting in which a probationary trooper was fired for an unspecified conduct violation.

— An Arkansas State Police trooper hired last year has been fired for an unspecified violation of agency rules and conduct.

The Arkansas State Police Commission held a special teleconference meeting Monday to discuss a recommendation from Col. Stan Witt to immediately fire Trooper Zachary Saxon.

The four commissioners on the call voted unanimously to follow Witt's recommendation after an executive session that lasted only a couple of minutes.

Details on the conduct that spurred the firing were not immediately known.

Agency spokesman Bill Sadler said only that the recommendation came after an internal investigation. No details were discussed during the open portion of the meeting, and a letter from Witt to Saxon released afterward said it was "based on your conduct and violations of the Policy Manual."

The letter did not specify the issues in question because the termination was officially made without cause. Sadler said the law allows Witt to fire a probationary trooper — defined as one in his first 18 months of employment — with or without cause so long as the state police commission approves.

Sadler said the case file was not immediately available because it is in use. He said he expected it would be released before the end of the day.

Saxon was hired Feb. 26, 2012. He did not attend the hearing, though he was in the building for an apparent meeting with Witt afterward.

The letter indicates Saxon was based in the Fort Smith Highway Patrol field division office.

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