(Shenandoah, Iowa – courtesy Ethan Hewett) — State officials have ruled that representatives of the Shenandoah Police Department violated “prohibited practice” regulations related to its union agreement.

At an early September meeting, the Iowa Employment Appeal Board determined that a designated representative of the city of Shenandoah, identified in the board’s documents as Police Chief Josh Gray, committed a prohibited practice in August 2024 under Iowa Code Chapter 20.10(2)(a) against then-employee Jeff Hoyt. The complaint was filed to the state board in November 2024 by the Teamsters Local Union no. 238. According to the order, the violation occurred when Gray told Hoyt during a meeting with City Administrator AJ Lyman and Union Representative Bryston Dunkeson that Hoyt should not have contacted the union regarding terms and conditions of his employment and that that he had “breached the chain of command” by involving the union and the city administrator.

The state order also indicates that Assistant Chief Ethan Johnson “reiterated that there is a chain of command in the police department” and that Hoyt should not have gone to the union. State officials say that “under these circumstances, it would be reasonable for an employee to feel pressured to not seek assistance from the union” and “fear possible retaliation” for doing so.

Per the order, Hoyt had started as a reserve officer with the police department in 2017, before beginning full-time employment with the city in the parks and recreation department in August 2020 and shifting to the streets department in 2021 and then working as a full-time water operator. The order states discussions took place in May and June 2024 about Hoyt becoming a full-time police officer, with wages approved by the city council that summer listing him at full-time pay upon a fall hiring. State officials indicate the August 2024 meeting was prompted by disputes over when certain pay levels would begin related to certification with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. The order states that Hoyt was then suspended from the police department in November 2024 for “not completing the ILEA requirements.”

To remedy the violation, the city was ordered to “cease and desist” from further violations of Chapter 20 and to post a notice in a prominent place in its main offices accessible to the general public and customary areas for information to employees in the affected bargaining units for no less than 30 days.

Shenandoah Mayor Roger McQueen said the city is not providing comment on the matter at this time. A copy of the complete order from the Iowa Employment Appeal Board is available below:

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