OXNARD : Flag-Raising Focus of Worker’s Appeal

An electrician at Oxnard College is fighting a three-day suspension, saying he was disciplined because he refused to fly the flag at full staff after the death of former President Richard M. Nixon.

Larry Jensen, who has worked at the college for more than five years, said he was merely upholding a federal law calling for flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days after a President or former President dies.

But Patricia Parham, the district’s personnel director, told trustees a different story. She said Jensen was suspended for “inefficiency, extended breaks and socializing during business hours.”

District officials also said their policy is to fly the flag at half-staff for three days after the death of a President or former President.

Jensen took his dispute to the governing board of the Ventura County Community College District last week.

“I am not guilty and I have have not done anything wrong,” Jensen said. “What this boils down to is a personality conflict.”

Federal law supports Jensen, according to Ventura College of Law librarian Bernard Jaffe.

Trustees delayed making a ruling on the matter, saying they needed more information to make a decision. Parham said she would prepare a report for the governing board so trustees can rule on the suspension at a meeting.

Jensen said the suspension would cost him about $450.