A Mobile police detective with more than a decade on the force was terminated after a departmental trial board concluded he had disobeyed orders, neglected his duties and improperly handled evidence, according to the Mobile Police Department.
Officer Timothy Meynard, who had served on the department’s assaults and sex crimes unit, was dismissed effective immediately following the board’s findings, police spokeswoman Ashley Rains said in a statement. The trial board convened to weigh evidence on three major violations and one minor violation against Meynard.
Board members found him guilty of two major violations, disobedience of orders and neglect of duty, along with a minor violation for improperly tagging and storing evidence. He was found not guilty of a third major violation, though Rains said she could not elaborate on what that specific charge involved, citing the sensitivity of the personnel proceeding.
The trial board recommended Meynard’s dismissal from the department, and both Mobile Police Chief James Barber and Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson agreed with the panel’s findings, finalizing his termination. Meynard has the option to appeal the decision through the city’s Personnel Board, a process that would make additional details about the case public.
Attempts to reach Meynard for comment on the evening of his dismissal were unsuccessful. It remains unclear how long he had worked specifically within the assaults and sex crimes division, though the department confirmed his overall tenure exceeded ten years.
Trial boards are a standard mechanism within the Mobile Police Department for adjudicating serious internal misconduct allegations against sworn officers, offering a formal hearing process before disciplinary action such as termination is finalized. The process is separate from any criminal investigation and focuses specifically on whether an officer violated departmental policy.
Evidence handling violations, in particular, are treated seriously within police agencies because they can jeopardize the integrity of ongoing criminal cases, including those Meynard may have worked while assigned to sex crimes investigations. The department has not indicated whether any pending cases connected to Meynard’s caseload will require review as a result of his termination.
Mobile Police Department officials said the decision reflects the department’s commitment to accountability among its ranks, particularly within specialized units handling sensitive investigations involving vulnerable victims.