Former police chief files grievance

RUSK — Former Rusk Police Chief Scott Heagney is seeking reinstatement after his termination earlier this month, according to a grievance filed with city leadership. According to our news partner KETK, Heagney, who was fired on Friday, has submitted an internal grievance to the city manager, mayor and city council requesting speedy and retroactive reinstatement. His attorney, David Schleicher of Waco, said the termination occurred while Heagney was actively cooperating with the city to schedule a required fitness-for-duty exam.

City officials previously said Heagney was terminated after an administrative review, citing that he was unavailable during duty hours while on administrative leave without requesting alternative leave.

“We look forward to Mr. Heagney immediately being returned to serving as Rusk Police Chief,” Schleicher said. “Though we believe the order for a fitness-for-duty exam was not justified, we will continue to cooperate in getting the exam scheduled and completed.”

According to the grievance, Heagney completed the required paperwork and an online questionnaire for the exam, which the city initially scheduled for this Thursday. Through his attorney, Heagney requested the exam be moved due to a previously scheduled job interview and proposed more than 10 alternative dates. The grievance states that Heagney never refused to take the exam and would have attended on Thursday if the city declined to reschedule.

The grievance disputes the city’s stated reason for the termination, saying the city was still in communication with Heagney’s legal team about rescheduling the exam days before he was fired.

The filing also claims the city’s public announcement of Heagney’s termination harmed his ability to secure future law enforcement employment. Heagney has requested that any city council discussion of his grievance be held in open session, as allowed under Texas law.