Johnson v. Department of Children & Families

Melvin Johnson, a security specialist with the Department of Children and Families at the South Florida State Hospital, appeals an order of the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC), based upon a hearing officer’s findings, concluding that Johnson’s dismissal from his employment was warranted. Finding fault with the hearing officer’s conclusion, we reverse.

Johnson was dismissed from his employment with the Department following an incident where Johnson had another security guard stand in for him during the last two hours of Johnson’s eight-hour shift on May 15, 1998. Johnson had' been…