The arbitration hearing for fired Port Arthur Police Det. Mickey Sterling is set to continue May 8 with May 9 set aside in case it is needed for more testimony.

This will mark the second continuance of the hearing, which originally took place over the course of three days in November 2017. Bob Thomas, attorney for Sterling, and Bettye Lynn, attorney representing the city, then continued the hearing over four days last week.

Arbitrator Don B. Hays said there is no set legal amount of time a hearing can last.

“It depends on complications involved in the evidence and legal issues involved,” Hays said when asked is there is a usual length of time for an arbitration hearing.

Unlike a criminal trial, the results of the arbitration hearing will not be known immediately. Attorneys have the option of closing arguments or a brief and if they choose to present a brief, they have 30 days to submit the information. Then there is a 30-day period for the arbitrator to render a decision.

Veteran officer Sterling was fired in June 2017 on allegations ranging from obstruction or retaliation and misuse of official information to official oppression.

Due to a statute of limitations, police officers and firefighters cannot be disciplined for non-criminal actions more than 180 days after they occurred. The focus of the hearing is now on Sterling’s alleged untruthfulness during the investigation.