City Employee Reprimanded, Back On The Job After Pointing Gun At Co-Workers

HYDE PARK, Utah — Two public works employees have voluntarily resigned after they say they could no longer feel safe on the job.

The reason ties back to an incident from  last November.

According to documents obtained through a public records request, Public Works Director Mike Grundig called a mandatory meeting.

During the meeting, witnesses say he held a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun, and said, “Don’t you think Justin would look better with a green dot on his forehead?”

Just a moment later, Justin Bodrero said, Grundig pointed his laser sight at his chest, and then at his crotch, as he backed away.

Witnesses said Grundig then pointed the gun at two other employees, before saying that he had a friend who does that to him and he hates it.

The incident was reported to Hyde Park Police at the end of January.

Bodrero told police that the three of them did not report it sooner because they worried that Grundig would be able to get away with it, thanks to his close ties to members of the city council, and the mayor.

Interim North Park Police Chief, Steve Milne says the incident was then turned over to the city, and that there were no criminal actions, since Grundig never made any threats, and it was determined that the handgun was not loaded.

In February, Mayor Sharidean Flint reprimanded Grundig.

In a letter to Grundig, Flint said, “I conclude that the drawing and pointing of a gun at a city employee during work hours constitutes offensive, deliberate, careless, and negligent conduct.”

Flint docked Grundig’s pay to $25 an hour and demoted him to a public works employee, saying that the city would hire a new director in his place.

Grundig filed an appeal with the city council, and on March 5th, the council made adjustments to the mayor’s disciplinary action.

Grundig’s title as director was reinstated, and his pay moved back up to $33.38 an hour. Instead, Grundig was put on a six-day suspension, and was able to return to work on March 11th.

Mayor Flint said ultimately the reprimand was changed because the city had to abide by previously set standards and procedures.

“I think the council made a decision, based on what they thought was right,” Flint said. “And I certainly tried to do that, but you know legality is always tricky.”

Public works employee, Kolby Christiansen told police back in January that he would leave his job, if Grundig came back, and that he worried that Grundig may not be mentally stable.

Bodrero told KSL in a written statement:

“While I enjoyed my job, relied on the income and hate to sacrifice 10 years of investment into the state retirement program, I could not in good conscience remain under the management of a man who felt that action was appropriate or in the employment of a city that defended those actions.”

-Justin Bordero

Grundig could not be reached for comment Thursday.