Farmington has hired a former Mendota Heights police sergeant who was fired after authorizing an illegal search during the investigation of a drug overdose death.

Bobby Lambert was sworn in as a patrol officer at Monday’s city council meeting, joining a 25-member police force.

Lambert had been with Mendota Heights police for just shy of 20 years when he was fired in June 2016 after a complaint was made against him. Lambert challenged the firing by filing a grievance with the state Bureau of Mediation Services.

This past March, an arbitrator ruled the city had “sole discretion” to fire him because he was in a one-year probationary period as a sergeant.

The arbitrator’s report detailed the basis of the complaint. According to the report, Lambert and his officers responded to the overdose call at a home in February 2016 and he authorized a search without a warrant.

The county attorney’s office eventually declined to pursue charges against two men who were present during the overdose death, partly because of the illegal search, the decision said.

Lambert later told an investigator during an internal affairs investigation that he did not think of the possibility of murder charges and that if he had, he would have secured the scene, the report read.

In his report, arbitrator Richard John Miller chose to reserve judgment about whether the illegal search was a valid reason for firing Lambert. By doing that, he wrote, Lambert would have a better chance at future employment.

Farmington Police Chief Brian Lindquist said Tuesday that he was aware of Lambert’s firing and that he considers the illegal search “a training issue and not necessarily a dereliction of duty.”

Lindquist said Lambert was the most experienced of the 200 applicants and that he emerged as the top candidate after a seven-stage process that includes internal reviews, interviews and hands-on scenario-based tests.

Lindquist added that City Administrator Dave McKnight signed off on the hiring.

“I take the composite of his work product for 20 years,” Lindquist said. “And having worked with him in different capacities on the Dakota County SWAT Team and knowing the caliber of the officer that he is … that’s what I weighed.”

Lambert’s starting salary in Farmington will be $27.56 an hour.

At Monday’s council meeting, Lindquist noted Lambert’s experience, which includes 20 years as a special use-of-force instructor and firearms instructor and 15 years on the SWAT team.

“He’s well-qualified, well-respected and we are lucky to have him,” Lindquist said.

Lambert did not immediately return a call requesting comment.