The termination of Watonga Police officer Monty Goodwin has been rescinded after an appeal to the city’s police review board.
Goodwin was terminated in August after a series of complaints accompanied by video clips in which his use of force was drawn into question. In one incident the district attorney declined to file charges; another remains in the court system. It was investigated by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, but the DA has yet to declare whether the office will bring charges. That decision may be issued before the end of the year.
City council member Tina Willis told an Oklahoma City news outlet she believes Goodwin was reinstated on a technicality, perhaps because some of his warnings were verbal rather than written warnings.
State law allows an officer who is part of the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System to appeal their termination. Goodwin exercised that option.
After the review board met, it issued the opinion that reinstatement was the correct move.
A press release from the city indicates it will determine what steps to take to comply with the board’s decision and implement them as required.
If the district attorney moves ahead with pressing charges in the second excessive force incident, the board may again review Goodwin’s employment.
The police review board is made up of citizen volunteers approved by the city council. Watonga recently restaffed its board.