The Mississippi State Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a ruling by Lauderdale County Circuit Court that the Meridian Civil Service Commission did not act in bad faith in terminating former police officer Rita Jack.

 

Jack, a 26-year veteran of Meridian Police Department, was fired in October 2022 after a four-month internal investigation showed a pattern of clocking in while still at home. In her testimony to the Civil Service Commission, Jack admitted to not always working while being clocked in at home and, in one instance, visiting the hairdresser for two hours on the clock, according to court documents.

 

The Meridian Civil Service Commission upheld the termination in a Dec. 14, 2022 order. According to court documents, the Commission stated in its order that its authority is limited to overturning the decision only if the city acted for political or religious reasons or acted in bad faith.

 

Following the Commission’s ruling, Jack appealed to Lauderdale County Circuit Court. In a Nov. 13, 2023 ruling, Judge Charles Wright said the Circuit Court’s role is to review the record to determine if the Commission acted in good faith. He found the Commission’s decision was made based on testimony and evidence and upheld the ruling.

 

On Dec. 13, 2023, Jack appealed the Circuit Court’s ruling to the state Court of Appeals, again stating her termination was made in bad faith and that the city did not provide enough evidence to show she violated police department policies.

 

The court noted in its decision that, as with the Circuit Court, the scope of its involvement is limited to review whether or not the Civil Service Commission acted in good faith in reaching its ruling.

 

“The issue of ‘good faith’ is intertwined with whether there was substantial evidence to support the Commission’s order and whether it was arbitrary or capricious,” the Court stated in its ruling. “If a Commission’s decision is supported by substantial evidence, then it is not arbitrary or capricious.”

 

The Court of Appeals ruled enough evidence was presented to the Civil Service Commission showing Jack repeatedly violated policy to justify upholding the termination and affirmed the Circuit Court’s ruling.

 

Since her termination from Meridian Police Department, Jack ran unsuccessfully for Lauderdale County Coroner in 2023 and is currently a candidate in the Democratic primary election for mayor of Meridian.

Read the Court of Appeals full ruling here.