Sergeant Jeff Soppeland, who's been with the department 20 years, says he was fired yesterday for breaking a department policy that prohibits deputies from criticizing superiors.

He says he and a few co-workers were talking for two hours about the sheriff's handling of a fellow deputy Jason Zunker's funeral service, among other things. Zunker was hit and killed while directing traffic on Highway 53 in January.

Soppeland admits to breaking the policy but says his termination is shocking.

He says the firing now goes to arbitration, which could take six to eight months.

Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk says because it is a personnel matter, he has no comment until the open records become available.