Melkonians

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

Melkonians began working for the Department as a deputy in 1990. The County discharged Melkonians on or about July 22, 2004. The discharge was based on the allegation that he committed battery on his girlfriend on March 7, 2003. His girlfriend called the Department on March 7, 2003, and reported she had been the victim of a battery. A lieutenant from the Department interviewed her that evening. The Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission (Commission) held an evidentiary hearing regarding Melkonians‟s discharge. The hearing officer found Melkonians had violated provisions of the County‟s manual of policy and procedures by committing domestic violence, violating state law, and behaving in a manner so as to discredit himself and the Department. The hearing officer further found Melkonians‟s discharge was reasonable discipline under the circumstances. On June 21, 2006, the Commission adopted the hearing officer‟s findings of fact and conclusions of law as its final decision. Melkonians then filed a petition for a writ of mandate in the superior court. Based on an independent examination of the administrative record, the court found the weight of

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