ITHACA, N.Y. — Jeremy Vann, who was a Deputy at the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department since 2012, has been terminated from his job, an official said Wednesday.
“We can confirm that Mr. Vann is no longer employed by Tompkins County,” said a representative from the Human Resources Department of Tompkins County.
Tompkins County Sheriff Kenneth Lansing declined to comment on the matter saying,”I won’t be speaking to that at this point and time.”
When asked why he would not comment, he said, “Just because I’m not going to.”
Related — Tompkins Deputy Jeremy Vann verdict: Guilty on 3 of 14 charges
Vann was convicted of fourth-degree tampering with a witness and two counts of second-degree attempted coercion on April 7. During a nearly four-week-long trial, he faced accusations of domestic violence and robbery, but he was not convicted on any of those accusations.
The Notice of Termination was reportedly served to him on April 10, a source familiar with the investigation said.
According to New York Public Officers Law section 30 subdivision(1)(e),”Every office shall be vacant upon the happening of one of the following events…His conviction of a felony, or a crime involving a violation of his oath of office…”
Vann’s Attorney Ray Schlather previously said he will be filing an appeal to try to overturn Vann’s convictions.
Related — Why Tompkins County deputy charged with felonies is still getting paid?
He said after the trial, “I’m pretty confident that those charges, probably, ultimately will be dismissed.”
If Vann’s convictions are overturned, Vann can then make an application to be reinstated as an officer.
The same aforementioned law states, “Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, after review of such record, the appointing authority may, in its discretion, reappoint such non-elected official to his former office, or a similar office if his former office is no longer available. In the event of such reinstatement, the appointing authority may, in its discretion, award salary or compensation in full or in part for the period from the date such office became vacant to the date of reinstatement or any part thereof…”
Vann has continued to be paid since the allegations against him in 2015, due to his contract as a police officer.
According to the website SeethroughNY.com, Vann earned $63,221 in 2016, $68,315 in 2015, $76,017 in 2014, $87,873 in 2013, and $64,073 in 2012.
Vann is scheduled to be sentenced at 9:15 a.m. May 23 at the Tompkins County Courthouse.