Tulare City Attorney Heather Phillips says former Police Chief Wes Hensley will be granted an administrative appeal in accordance with the law. But a “full evidentiary hearing” is out of the question, adds Phillips, and there is no possibility of Hensley’s reinstatement as Chief of Police.
That isn’t good enough for Hensley and his attorney, Mike Lampe. They believe Hensley is entitled to a full public hearing to determine whether he was wrongfully terminated by former City Manager Joe Carlini.
"[Hensley] asks for nothing more — and is entitled to nothing less — than an opportunity to convince the city to reverse the decision of its former city manager," Lampe stated in a March 30 letter to Phillips.
Hensley was given written notice of his termination on March 20. It was signed by then City Manager Carlini. Within hours of his receipt of the notice, Carlini was fired by the city council.
Hensley has said he was let go after Carlini asked him to investigate Mayor Carlton Jones’ use of the city credit card.
Read more at the Visalia Times Delta.