A Muskogee police officer battling accusations of engaging in conduct unbecoming an officer won his reinstatement to his former rank without having to air the facts publicly before the Merit System Board.

A hearing before the three-member panel scheduled next week for Sgt. Ron Yates’ appeal of the adverse employment decision was canceled Thursday after his reinstatement was made public.

John Wright, a Beggs lawyer representing Yates in the employment matter, said his client was reinstated Wednesday to the position of command sergeant major.

“In the interest of both parties, this matter was settled,” said Wright, who was representing Yates in the employment matter. “Mr. Yates will resume his role as a sergeant for the force.”

Chief Rex Eskridge declined to comment on the substance of Yates’ reinstatement or the details of the employment decision.

“All I can tell you is that Yates asked to meet with me yesterday and asked to discuss some issues,” Eskridge said, citing the confidential nature of employment matters. “If he wants to (talk about the reinstatement) he can, but I am prohibited from discussing that.”

Yates said he was glad to have the matter resolved but declined to discuss further his reinstatement or any details leading up to the department’s decision.

Documents provided by the city clerk’s office show Yates was demoted from command sergeant major to patrol officer March 24 for allegedly engaging in conduct unbecoming an officer. Those documents allege Yates asked another officer to conceal information regarding a conversation the two had earlier about the discipline of a third police officer.

Eskridge, in the discipline notice delivered to Yates, described the request as the equivalent of a superior officer ordering a subordinate “to be untruthful.”

Yates’ reinstatement to his former rank became effective immediately.

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