A committee given the responsibility to consider discipline for Oneida County's Veteran's Services Officer has recommended no further discipline.
A day-long evidentiary hearing was held last month on allegations against Tammy Walters. When the 8 allegations were heard, the county board voted two of them worth possible future discipline and dismissed the other 6. One was improperly giving a security card to a volunteer for emergency duty who at one time was an employee of the office, and the other allegation was using profanity in public.
After nearly two hours Tuesday, the Administration committee voted no further discipline should be given to Walters.
Her attorney, Brian Bennett, said Walters had been punished enough by having the earlier hearing and largely being ordered housebound after she was put on administrative leave. He says in criminal court, if a person is jailed waiting disposition of their case, judges often let them out, since they've already served an equivalent amount of time...
"....it's what's called 'time served'. In certain cases, that's certainly appropriate. I believe in the present case, it is appropriate as well..."
Walters admitted to some misjudgments and said she had apologized for the salty language used in public.
As with last month's hearing, the county board room was full of veterans supporting Walters. Many of the same people came back Tuesday to support Walters, including Bob Williams who said Walters had been through much anguish...
".....this process has gone far enough. I say that she has suffered enough..."
The committee voted unanimously to not recommend any more punishment for Walters.
