In January 2013, Tulsa County Associate District Judge Dana Kuehn had found that an arbitrator-ordered reinstatement of Denton would pose “a special risk of injury, physical and psychological, to citizens and, if he is allowed reinstatement, the department will be faced with explaining why Owasso allows abusive conduct by its officers, which is against the law.”

In the appellate court decision that reversed Kuehn’s ruling, Presiding Judge Larry Joplin wrote the majority opinion.

“We hold the cited criminal statutes establish no public policy impediment to enforcement of the arbitrator’s decision setting aside Denton’s termination and reinstating him to the employment,” Joplin wrote. “The trial court erred in vacating the arbitrator’s decision as contrary to public policy.”

The public policy exception to at-will employees deals with balancing employers’ rights and the public interest.