Hearing officer affirms Hardwick's dismissal as security chief in Hempstead

A hearing officer has ruled against Andrew Hardwick and affirmed that his dismissal as director of security for Hempstead schools was "warranted."

The 19-page ruling found Hardwick tried to purchase vehicles for the district without permission and that he "breached the trust of his supervisors," a transgression the hearing officer, Deborah Gaines, said is "incompatible with continued employment."

The decision, dated Feb. 18, comes 16 months after the Hempstead school board voted 3-2 to place him on 60-day paid administrative leave. The board, in a 3-2 vote in December 2018, had moved to file disciplinary charges against Hardwick, who made $90,000 a year, and to extend his leave 60 days.

"I take no pleasure in the termination of Mr. Hardwick,” said Monte Chandler, a Valley Stream attorney who represented the school district. “However, the hearing officer’s findings demonstrate that his clandestine misconduct was egregious, intentional, and a breach of the public trust."

Officials in the nearly 8,000-student district declined to comment Friday, saying they don’t comment on personnel matters.

Hardwick’s attorney, Douglas Thomas of Hempstead, could not be reached for comment.

Hardwick, who was hired in Hempstead in 2015, was accused of misconduct and insubordination, and the district sought disciplinary action under Section 75 of the Civil Service law, the decision said. Gaines presided over 13 hearings between March and September of last year.

District officials said Hardwick never obtained proper approval to purchase a 12-passenger van and sport utility vehicle, shortly after the district had purchased two SUVs.

Hardwick maintained he had authorization from top administrators and that the charges are part of a campaign to undermine and remove him, Gaines’ decision said.

Acting Superintendent Regina Armstrong testified that, during a conversation on Aug. 22, 2018, Armstrong told Assistant Superintendent James Clark that no additional vehicles should be purchased, and that he should tell Hardwick not to proceed, the decision states.

Clark on that same day asked Hardwick about the purchase, after hearing contradictory information from Armstrong, the decision said, adding that Clark did not tell Hardwick not to proceed.

But on Oct. 3, 2018, the decision said, Clark told Hardwick of Armstrong’s directive, shortly after a representative of Huntington Ford called Hardwick regarding the second purchase.

Armstrong called for an investigation and concluded Hardwick was insubordinate, adding that the maneuver was particularly glaring since Hardwick was involved in the purchase of the first set of vehicles and was familiar with the process.

Keith Halop, the district’s purchasing agent, testified he is the only official authorized to make such purchases and did not know of the approval for a second set of vehicles.

Hardwick, Gaines said, maintains he had approval from two former administrators, but said Hardwick was obligated to answer to the new administration’s wishes.

“The record evidence demonstrates that both individuals were no longer in positions of authority …,” Gaines wrote. “Thus, whatever authority they may have had was no longer valid.”

She added that with his actions, Hardwick "has breached the trust of his supervisors and attempted to spend almost $80,000 of taxpayer funds that the superintendent had not approved.”

Hardwick made history in 2009 when he became the first black mayor elected in Freeport. But he was involved in controversy about his combative style and security issues. That year, the village spent close to $10,000 to hire security guards to protect him, after he said he had received threats.

Hardwick later started carrying a gun and posted armed cops at village meetings. He lost his reelection bid in 2013. He was hired in Hempstead with little public review and opposition from a trustee who wanted more information about him.