Appeals Court Finds Mormon Branch President Did Not Misuse His Police Department Credentials

In Fierro v. Park City Municipal Corporation, (UT Ct. App., March 27, 2014), the Utah Court of Appeals rejected the findings of the city's employee discharge appeal board that had upheld the firing of a member of the police department for misusing his police credentials.  Michael Fierro was president of a small local Mormon congregation (branch) as well as a member of the police department. When a member of his branch was arrested as a suspect in a child sex abuse case, Fierro visited him in jail in his Branch President role.  Fierro was dismissed for misusing his credentials to obtain the visit.  The appeals court found however that the evidence showed Fierro had fully disclosed his ecclesiastical role in visiting the jail. Courthouse News Service reports on the decision.