Thursday, February 01, 2024

Granby Police Chief, fired for alleged alcohol abuse, threatening arrest for spreading rumor about him, asks court to give him back his job


Former Granby Police Chief Rico Engberg, Joplin, who was fired by the Granby City Council January 3 is asking for a judicial review and to get his job back.

In documents filed Wednesday in Newton County Circuit Court, Engberg, who is represented by Webb City attorney Wesley Barnum, says the council's decision, which came following a hearing showed "a vested interest in the plaintiff's dismissal rather than representing an objective and unbiased decision."







The decision, Engberg claims, violated "constitutional provisions," and was not supported by evidence.

The city's findings of fact, which were included as an exhibit in the court filing claimed Engberg was unable to perform his duties because of an alcohol abuse problem, acted in his own self-interest, did not attend City Council meetings, failed to provide mileage logs and trip logs and did not follow the requirement to use a time card.

Alleged alcohol abuse

Engberg and his fiance testified at his hearing that he was taking medication to curb his desire for alcohol.

There was testimony from Officer Anthony Abruzzo and Mayor Jamie Conway that they believed the chief was intoxicated when the chief made phone calls to each of them on different dates and times. Both of these witnesses outlined that they did not know with certainty if the chief was actually intoxicated.

Engberg's fiance said he was continuing to have a few drinks at night.

Allegations of acting in his own self-interest

The findings alleged Engberg threatened to arrest a woman if she "continued to spread rumors" about an incident involving the chief and the woman's mother. The incident is not specified in the findings.

Officer Abruzzo testified that rumors were circulating about Engberg's meeting with the woman's mother and that eventually, Engberg told Abruzzo, "I f--ked up. I lied to you guys," and told him the lie concerned him and the woman's mother.







The council's findings were that Engberg's threats to arrest the woman were acting in his own self-interest.

Engberg was hired as police chief in March 2023. He previously was a school resource officer for the East Newton R-6 School District and worked with the Newton County Sheriff's Office and Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force.

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20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like he was fired for good cause

Anonymous said...

Alcohol + a personality disorder. Not good.

Anonymous said...

What a Waste of Time and Effort - Clean up Your Act - Rico Engberg - You Failed to Do Your Job - Stop Blaming Other People - Get Help and Stop Playing the Victim Card and then Trying to Create a Payday from the City of Grandby..

Yes - Why do People think they are Entitled to their Jobs - When they Mess Up - - How Many Excuses Do they Need - - I have a Drinking Problem, I have a Drug Problem, I have an Anger Problem, I can't make it to Work on Time or am always constantly absent, I am Lazy, I won't do what I am Told to do, I Damage Company Property, I Lie all the Time, I Steal from my Employer, I post derogatory things about my Employer and the Company to Social Media Outlets, I Discriminate, Etc., Etc., Etc., when these things occur - You Need Your ASS FIRED...

And of Course there is always a DAMN ATTORNEY - Trying to Make a Dime - - Because their Client Thinks they have been Harmed - when they won't do their Jobs - it is always someone else's problem / fault - why I cannot Hold On to a Job or Perform My Job Duties. LOOK IN THE MIRROR...

A majority of People today - Do Not Want To Work - and Feels Everyone in Society and the Government Owes Them Something. Waiting to Collect their Next Unemployment Check, Stimulus Check - and when they are Working a lot are only doing a Half-Assed Job when Employed - -

Today - there is No Reason to be Unemployed - Companies CANNOT Get Enough Employees to Fill the Available Jobs Out in the First Place.

So STOP WHINNING - - and do the Job You were Hired to Do and Perform - - GO TO WORK AND BECOME A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY - - -



Anonymous said...

Mr Turner is there a way to find if former chief Engberg POST credentials were suspended?

Anonymous said...

Wasn’t he fired from being a School Resource Officer because of alcohol??? DWI??? Is he even able to be a police officer anymore? Surely he has lost that privilege…

Anonymous said...

Ask him how he can do his job since the State took away his Post Certification???

Anonymous said...

He could be a better fit in Jeff City.

Hw would blend right in with the repube law and order types.

Anonymous said...

Listen all you Leo’s need to remember you work for us the taxpayers. Your feelings will never trump my rights. I see all these videos of uneducated or inflated ego Leo’s.
Be respectful and I will be respectful be a jerk and watch out I will school you on being a jerk. No body is above the law or below the law. Bad cops give all the good cops a bad reputation. Your opinions are void, facts are all we the people need hear.
No copsplaying, no directives etc. Learn the law know the law, after all that is what you are hired to do. To all the good Leo’s I Thank you and appreciate what you do, for all the Tyrants you can eat a bag of dicks.

Anonymous said...

Move on Rico... Don't let this define you, but admit your mistakes and work on your comeback.

Anonymous said...

I’d bet the officers working for Granby sooner walkout than work for him again

Anonymous said...

It will continue to define him… since he won’t let it go! Now the truth is coming out, geez what a loser…

Anonymous said...

With a name like Rico, dude looks like he came from a Saturday Night Live skit. Sounds like his tenure as chief was just that.

Anonymous said...

He might want to cut his losses and move on down the road.

Isn't Marion Kansas looking for a police chief?

Anonymous said...

Social media reports have it that Carl Junction has openings. Down six officers. Can’t pay enough to keep anyone but perhaps this guy would take peanuts for a job.

Anonymous said...

I couldn’t believe it when the city of Granby hired him as chief. You can’t tell me they didn’t know he was fired as the Granby Elementary SRO for reasons related to his alcoholism. Now there’s an idea for a news investigation…WHY? And the fact that he was found passed out in his running cruiser when he worked for Newton County and was fired…Come on! This was a train wreck waiting to happen. Why would our city counsel overlook these things?!

Anonymous said...

He looks like Otis from the Andy Griffith Show. A drunk, sloppy, loser.

Anonymous said...

Good gravy! Look up Freddie Rico Engberg on Casenet - this guy shouldn't be in law enforcement at all!!! He's a friggin trainwreck.

Anonymous said...

Pretty sure the council only new about him losing his job at the school. The rest came out recently. Everybody deserves a second chance but he failed on this chance. It was a gamble and Granby lost! Now he has stated that Granby and citizens are his main concern. Lol. Now Granby will have to use tax money to keep fighting him off. He is a liar and can't even be a police officer anymore!

Anonymous said...

Got some Barney traits as well apparently.

Anonymous said...

He’s a narcissist and a pathological liar, he will never see his mistakes or admit that he was wrong