BELLE — Former Belle police officer Anthony (Tony ) Baretich may finally have his day before an Administrative Hearing Commission (AHC) today (Wednesday) to determine if he is guilty of abusing his peace officer license or if said license should be reinstated.

Baretich was stripped of his commission by Belle Marshal Joe Turnbough in September 2017 for reasons Baretich says were “unforthcoming.” Baretich has been waiting to have his case heard by AHC since Turnbough filed a complaint against the former officer on Sept. 20, 2017.

Following his decommission, he worked briefly for the city of Belle as an ordinance officer, but could not write tickets. Aldermen said the position was seasonal and eliminated it months later. Baretich has been working outside of the public safety field since then, waiting for AHC to hear his case.

Mike O’Connell, communications director for the Missouri Department of Public Safety, explained no action can be taken against an officer’s license before this hearing takes place through Police Officer Standards and Training (POST)

“Before POST can take any action on an officer’s license the AHC must hold a hearing and determine whether there are grounds to discipline the license,” O’Connell said.

This is the sixth time the case has been rescheduled, and each continued hearing has delayed for a different reason. 

According to AHCportal.mo.gov documents, Baretich’s attorney, Gaylin Rich Carver, made a motion Dec. 20, 2018, to continue a scheduled Jan. 9 hearing until this week. Said motion was approved and the hearing rescheduled for March 20, at the U.S. Post Office building, 131 West High Street, Third Floor, Jefferson City. Four hours has been allotted for parties to present their case before the AHC.

An AHC employee said the hearing could still be moved up until the scheduled time, but it is rare and unusual for that to happen.