Forest Park council upholds termination of code compliance director after employee complaints

The Forest Park City Council voted on Nov. 24 to uphold the city manager’s recommendation to terminate Gary Walker as director of code compliance after several employees testified about harassment and an interim city manager summarized an HR investigation recommending dismissal.

Interim City Manager Chief Clemons told the council that HR’s investigation documented "inappropriate comments and conduct, including racially insensitive remarks, body shaming, overly familiar physical contact, threatening and intimidating behavior," and that "based on the totality of the evidence and the severity of the findings, the final determination resulted in a recommendation to terminate" Walker. Clemons said the recommendation followed consultation with legal counsel and referenced city charter authority for the action.

The testimony assembled during the hearing included several employees who described workplace incidents they said involved Walker. Employee Yamina Jacobs told the council she became frightened to work after an incident and said, "I have heard him say rude things about Hispanic people." Jaquiz Wells, who said he encouraged Jacobs to report the incident to HR, described Walker’s conduct as "unprofessional" and said Walker "is not a good fit for the city of Forest Park." Mia Rodriguez said Walker "makes a lot of physical contact" and called his behavior "overbearing" and uncomfortable for female staff.

Walker denied the allegations during his remarks to the council and characterized the complaints as a "witch hunt," saying he had not previously been disciplined and pointing to department accomplishments such as higher compliance rates and property demolitions. "If I'm guilty of anything, it's motivating my team," Walker told the council in his closing statement.

After hearing presentations, testimony and brief comments from council members—many of whom thanked Walker for prior service but expressed concern that multiple staff interviews found problems—the council moved to uphold the city manager’s termination recommendation. The roll-call vote recorded Council Member James, Gunn, Gutierrez, Akins Wells and Mears voting yes.

Under city policy cited at the hearing, a director placed on administrative leave continues to receive pay and benefits during the appeal period; Chief Clemons said the records related to the HR investigation had been provided to council members for review. Following the vote, the council moved into executive session to deliberate further on personnel and related legal matters.

The council’s action implements the city manager’s recommendation as described at the hearing; no additional ordinance or budget action was recorded in the meeting minutes provided.