Jones, a three-year policeman who spent off-duty hours involved in a campaign to criticize the city's pay raise policy last summer, said he expects to be fired after his "predetermination" hearing before Chief Jon Greiner on Friday.

That hearing will allow Jones to respond to allegations in a report written by Assistant Chief Wayne Tarwater, who informed Jones his leave status was changing from "paid" to "unpaid" last week.

Tarwater declined to discuss his recommendation or the allegations in the report.

Greiner, in an e-mail responding to a reporter's query last week, said it was up to Jones or his attorney to release any details.

Jones said he is accused of a number of policy violations, as well as stealing wallets during two traffic stops of undocumented immigrants - accusations for which the Weber County Attorney previously said there is insufficient evidence to charge Jones with any crime.

The report does not say Jones should be fired for taking part in the pay-raise protest.

Nonetheless, Jones' defenders believe he is being unfairly punished for trying to embarrass Mayor Matthew Godfrey and the city over a police pay policy that was approved, and later rescinded, last summer.

Greiner has said his department cannot tolerate dishonest cops.

Jones was on duty, as were other officers, during two shifts during which Latino motorists claimed an officer stole their wallets.

Jones was placed on administrative leave July 27, just hours after Godfrey saw a man he believed to be an off-duty officer giving a ride to a woman who had parked a moving van in front of City Hall.

The van bore a sign blaming Godfrey for a police ticket quota, and had been moved to strategic spots around the city for about 10 days in July.

Greiner had dispatchers run the man's license-plate number - supplied by the mayor - and learned it was Jones.

Within an hour, he sent a lieutenant to put Jones on administrative leave.

Greiner insisted the discipline was coincidental, and that he had intended to suspend Jones earlier in the day for an unrelated internal-affairs investigation regarding conduct unbecoming an officer.

The investigation by two lieutenants was completed over the holidays, and Tarwater forwarded his report and recommendation to Greiner.

A separate investigation by Weber County Attorney Mark DeCaria, launched at Godfrey's request, concluded that Godfrey did nothing illegal and that Greiner probably did nothing illegal in using a police dispatcher to learn Jones' identity.

Greiner probably had enough information to suspend Jones on July 27, DeCaria decided, although the officer questioned Greiner's claim that Jones' suspension was a mere coincidence.

If Greiner fires him, Jones can appeal to the Ogden Civil Service Commission, a three-member panel that decides fire and police personnel appeals.

Jones said he intends to appeal, if fired.

"I hope I'll get more fairly treated when there's someone other that the department looking at it," he said.

kmoulton@sltrib.com