Runnemede crossing guard denies breaching chain of command

Gina Bowne, a crossing guard from Runnemede, has been suspended for two days because she allegedly broke the chain of command by texting Mayor Nick Kappatos to get the snow cleared from a crosswalk.

Bowne, a 16-year veteran didn't have her normal point of contact on Monday, so instead she reached out to the mayor who in turn forwarded the message to the public works department.

During the 5 p.m. hour on today's show, we heard from both Mayor Kappatos and Gina Bowne on the issue.

We originally thought there may be more to the story than what was being reported, so we invited Mayor Kappatos on the show to discuss the issue.

According to Mayor Kappatos, the only discrepancy that is missing in the story is that the punishment was described as harsh. According to the mayor, Bowne has been reprimanded in the past for not following procedures. The procedures are dictated by the police department who set the guidelines and while the mayor and Bowne may be friendly, ultimately she has to follow policy.

Kappatos stated, "the police department, it's their job, they're public safety. So they've outlined what's supposed to happen. They respond to these calls and they take care of them.  So even though I'm friendly with Gina, you know she and I talk, we do text back and forth. When it came to light that she had gone and told me and not told anybody else. That's when the problem happened. This is not a first offense and so that's why the suspension was handed out."

When we asked Mayor Kappatos directly regarding whether or not he supported the suspension, the mayor responded by saying "I do, I support the suspension."

You can listen to the full interview with Mayor Kappatos in the YouTube clip below.

Later on in the hour, the veteran crossing guard Gina Bowne, who has been suspended for insubordination, called in to the show to give her position on the matter. We pointed out that in trying to do a good deed and keep kids safe, Bowne is paying for it after sending the text that got her a two day suspension.

"It's absolutely ridiculous." Bowne said.  "I do not think it's fair and in my defense I did try to follow the chain of command. I attempted to call Harry, who is the head of the department of public works. When he answered his phone he told me I had the wrong number. And I confirmed I had the proper number by contacting an ex-councilwoman who said I had the right number."

When we mentioned that we had the mayor on and if Bowne had mentioned her attempt to follow the chain of command, she said the mayor was aware of it. "No, he wouldn't mention it. But yes I did, I did explain myself. Not directly to him. But I explained myself through the chain of command."

Bowne also disputed that she had been reprimanded prior to this. "I've never been in trouble before and if I was, I'd like to see any written paperwork that I signed saying that I've been in trouble."

Listen to Gina Bowne's full story in the YouTube clip below.