Shirk Loses.Fires 4 the Next Day

[TheCat]

Day after losing re-election, Public Defender Matt Shirk fires 4 employees, including chief investigator

By Andrew Pantazi Wed, Aug 31, 2016 @ 4:11 pm | updated Wed, Aug 31, 2016 @ 6:22 pm

The day after Public Defender Matt Shirk lost re-election, his office confirmed, he fired four employees.

The Public Defender's Office provided copies of termination letters given to Jerry Coxen, Shirk's chief investigator; Coxen's administrative assistant, Angela Fouraker; Joe Frasier, the office's IT director; and Lori Williams, another administrative assistant.

Jerry Coxen, Shirk's chief investigator until Wednesday, didn't share any more details, other than to say, "It was a good run. I enjoyed my job. ... You go in standing up, and you leave standing up."

Shirk's spokesman, Sam Shiver, responded to an interview request with a written statement.

"It is the policy of the Public Defender's Office not to comment on personnel matters. In light of the specific accusation being alleged by former disgruntled employees our office will only add that employee retention is based on professional performance and standard best business practices. The high bar for excellence that is expected of all employees of the Public Defender's Office remains the same as when I set it upon taking office in 2009."

The four employees' termination letters don't say why they were fired, but the firings came the morning after Shirk lost in the Republican primary to former county judge Charlie Cofer. Cofer won with 75 percent of the vote, and he only faces a write-in candidate in November.

Joe Frasier, the office's former IT director, said he believed it was retaliation for his testimony in a grand jury investigation into Shirk. Frasier testified about public records that were deleted in the office. Frasier helped lead a program to digitize case files so that lawyers could do all their work on iPads and laptops, a program that Shirk has heralded during his campaign as a cost-saving effort.

After the grand jury testimony, he said he was demoted to only handling software development.

He said the office told him Wednesday he was being fired because the office decided to change its software infrastructure.

"That makes no sense," Frasier said. "They told me they're going to switch software. But why replace a perfectly working system with another system when you're leaving office in four months?"

Frasier worked at the office for 28 ½ years, he said.

Coxen's administrative assistant, Angela Fouraker, was also fired Wednesday, she said, one day shy of seven years working there.

"I am a single mother. This is my only source of income. I rarely called in sick. I rarely take leave. But yet, you have other people who just abuse the system and nothing is said or done."

She said she thinks more firings are going to come in Shirk's remaining months before Cofer takes office in January. Of Shirk, she said, "he's going to make a point. He has nothing else to lose. That office is in complete turmoil." Though she said she was completely non-political, her boyfriend was an avid Cofer supporter.

Lori Williams, an administrative assistant who oversaw secretaries in the misdemeanor and juvenile divisions, said she'd been there 19 years.

"I'm very shell-shocked right now and very upset. This blindsided me," she said. "When I asked why, it was specifically, 'Well, you know, we serve at the whim. That's what was told to me. It was his whim that I lose my job of 19 years that I've worked hard at and I've shown him nothing but loyalty.'"

She said she asked the office for her personnel file but was told it wouldn't be available for at least a week. If Cofer will re-hire her, Williams said, she'd take the job back in a heartbeat.

Cofer said he only spoke to Shirk once, and he did not request any staff changes. "I haven't talked to him about a single person or employee. My only communication with Mr. Shirk was last night when he called to congratulate me and he spoke about engaging in the transition."

Andrew Pantazi: (904) 359-4310

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2016-08-31/story/day-after-losing-re-election-public-defender-matt-shirk-fires-4

[Houseboat Mike]

If ever the term butthurt came into play....this is it.

[spuwho]

By any other words.....spite.

Let Cofer make his choices. Last gasp at authority by Shirk.

[simonsays]

On the face of it, it looks like an abuse of political power.

[fsquid]

looks like an asshole with a small dick

[Scarlettjax]

Those fired have done a lot for that office.  Everyone of them are dedicated public servants in jobs not many would seek, with their clientele.  Jerry Coxen walked a fine line as a former law enforcement officer in charge of their investigative force, and did so with the right amount of respect for all involved.  Joe Fraiser is an excellent IT professional who saved the office and the taxpayers significant amounts with his innovations on software and integration of information systems.  Both of the ladies fired were always helpful and professional, whether dealing with a client or court personnel. 

There is no way this is anything other than abuse of the office.  It is shameful.  Wish I could say I was shocked.

[Dog Walker]

Schoolyard bully stuff!  Hope another office can hire them so that Melissa Nelson can hire them back when she takes office.

Shirked his duties and has shirked adult behavior and professionalism.  Aptly named.

[tufsu1]

^ Melissa Nelson is taking over as State Attorney.  Charlie Cofer beat Shirk in the primary for Public Defender

[spuwho]

Per Jacksonville.com:

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2016-09-06/story/state-attorney-angela-corey-gives-jobs-some-fired-public-defender-matt?utm_source=story_footer_recommendations&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=cxense

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Kristin Eaker, an unpaid intern of 17 months at the office, said she was texted by her boss that she was also fired. She'd been working at the office as an investigator while seeking her master's in forensic psychology, and she said she even paid her own way to get certifications like a $600 forensic examiner's class because she was hoping to eventually get a paid job. She said the firing came just after she posted an encouraging note on Fouraker's Facebook page. She also wasn't told why she was fired, just that her service was no longer needed.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Fired seems like the wrong word since she was an intern.

Excused might be a better way of putting it.