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Updated: 11:13 PM Nov 4, 2009
Fired, then Re-Instated Ironton Police Officer Wins City Council Seat; Future Remains in Question
While she was fired for falsifying a traffic ticket, now former Ironton Police Officer Beth Rist will take a seat on city council -- or will she?
Posted: 1:33 AM Nov 4, 2009Reporter: Dave Benton; Mike Waterhouse Email Address: dave.benton@wsaz.com; mike.waterhouse@wsaz.com |
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82 Comments 
UPDATE from 11pm Wednesday
IRONTON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- While she was fired for falsifying a traffic ticket, now former Ironton Police Officer Beth Rist will take a seat on city council -- or will she?
WSAZ.com's Dave Benton has the latest on the newly elected councilwoman and the legal battle with the city of Ironton.
Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship fired Rist after she admitted to a misdemeanor of falsifying a traffic ticket. Her termination was reversed by an arbitrator, and the city is appealing that move.
Blankenship says says Rist's probation status is the problem. The question now is will she take the seat or wait to see if she gets her job back on the police force?
If Rist prevails in Common Pleas Court, she'll have the option to choose council or police department. Blankenship says the court would have to rule whether she continues or terminates her probation.
So far, no date has been set for Rist's next hearing.
ORIGINAL STORY
IRONTON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- An Ironton Police officer who was fired for falsifying a report and later re-instated won a city council seat Tuesday night.
Beth Rist was the third highest vote-getter after the unofficial results were tallied at the Lawrence County Courthouse. Four were elected to the position.
Early on in the night, Rist was behind -- sticking in fifth place until the last round of votes were added up.
Here are the results of that race (winners in bold):
- Mike Lutz 1,520 (20%)
Bob Cleary 1,343 (17%)
Beth Rist 1,241 (16%)
Dave Frazer 1,227 (16%)
Leo Johnson 1,217 (16%)
Hugh Scott 1,132 (15%)
Rist was fired by Mayor Rich Blankenship in October 2008 for falsifying a police report, a charge on which she was later indicted and entered a guilty plea. She then filed a lawsuit against the City of Ironton.
During her grievence suit, an arbitrator ruled that Rist's termination was not justified -- saying Rist was treated unfairly. The arbitrator also said Rist was allowed to have her job back as a police officer.
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Latest Comments
You people are idiots. I can't wait to watch the next 6 months on the news. Alot of folks will cry, laugh, be sending postcards from far away islands, will be sending postcards from far away prisons, etc. this is going to be great. Where is my popcorn?
Rutland......she did admit to it. She admitted to giving someone a break and gained nothing by it. Officers everyday give breaks and get kickbacks for it. She never lied about what she done. How many officers lie everyday and get by with it. Think they need to drug test all of them.
To all of you jealous haters out there. Look around you and see how many people you think you can trust in your life at work or at home. Stand behind someone willing to risk everything for what is right. Good luck ms Rist
- Embattled Ironton Police Officer Rist Seeking City Council Seat
- Ironton Police Department Ordered to Reinstate Ousted Officer
- Arbitration Hearing Underway for Former Ironton Police Officer
- UPDATE: Fired Ironton Police Officer Enters Plea; Gets Probation
- Trial Date Set for Fired Ironton Police Officer
- UPDATED: Fired Police Officer Indicted; Pleads Not Guilty
- Ironton Police Officer Fired
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