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City, N.D. – City Attorney Russell Myhre recommended the removal of a city commission agenda item to ratify the “Statement of Charges” against Police Chief Dean Ross last night and to re-schedule the administrative hearing in front of the board at a later date.

Myhre says the city will proceed with the “Statement of Charges issued against Ross on September 9, the same day he was suspended without pay. The charges allege Ross misappropriated $10,000 in drug task force funds, sold city vehicles without city permission, bought property without city approval and delayed pay raises by failing to evaluate staff members of the police department.

On September 13, the district court entered an order, prohibiting the city from proceeding with the Ross termination hearing until after a district court hearing on October 21.

The city filed a response to the court order saying the city was never given a chance to respond to the allegations before the court acted. The city is asking the court to vacate its order immediately on those grounds.

A court hearing to determine whether the city followed proper procedure in the firing of Ross will be set soon.

Myhre says the city commission has complied with the legal requirements to proceed with an administrative hearing over 18 non-criminal counts against Ross alleging misapplication of funds and insubordination.