Harper recommended for termination

ALBANY — The director of the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport has recommended that her former deputy be fired following an indictment by a grand jury on theft charges, city officials said.

Kevin Harper was indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 25 on one count of felony theft by taking. He is alleged to have stolen more than 25 Polo shirts from Dilliards, where he worked as a part-time loss prevention officer, Sept. 3, court records state.

On Wednesday, City Manager Alfred Lott said Airport Director Yvette Aehle had notified Harper of her recommendation of termination. Harper now has 10 days to appeal the decision to Lott.

The decision to terminate Harper appears to conflict with other recent personnel decisions that followed a policy that promotes graduated disciplinary measures even in the case of an arrest. Previously upon arrest, employees were suspended with pay followed by suspension without pay for an indictment and ending with termination only after a conviction; but Wednesday, Lott said that Harper’s case is different.

“My understanding of the situation is that there was an admission of guilt to the airport director as opposed to the other cases,” Lott said.

The other cases involved city employees who maintained their innocence.

“Normally, following the personnel policy, he would’ve been put on suspension with pay following his arrest and the suspended without pay following the indictment,’ Lott said, “but because he confessed to our airport director, there has been a recommendation for termination.”

Although he has the right to appeal, Harper has not formally done so, Lott said.

It’s been a long bumpy road for Harper, who was named in 2007 to Georgia Trend’s “40 under 40” — an annual list of rising Georgia stars.

In an interview with the magazine, Harper said that risks were part of his life. “My mom always says, ‘It wouldn’t be you if you didn’t take a risk,'” he was quoted as saying.