Tuesday will mark day 11 of the arbitration hearing for fired Port Arthur Police Det. Mickey Sterling.

More than one year has passed since Sterling was fired. The arbitration hearing began late last year and continued sporadically every few months, a few days at a time.

And two months have passed since a judge denied enforcement of administrative subpoenas in the case.

Testimony is set to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday on the fifth floor of Port Arthur City Hall.

The background

• June 2017 — Sterling, a veteran officer with the department, was one of five officers placed on administrative leave in June after Det. Elie Van Horn, citing the Texas Whistleblower Act, filed an affidavit against them. Van Horn’s allegations ranged from obstruction or retaliation and misuse of official information to official oppression.

The focus of the hearing is now on Sterling’s alleged untruthfulness and insubordination during the investigation.

Bob Thomas is representing Sterling and Bettye Lynn is representing the city in the case. As of June, Lynn’s legal fees neared $176,000 in the case.

• November 2017 — Arbitration hearings begin and included testimony from psychic medium Karen Jannise via telephone, Carol Gauthier, whose husband may or may not have jumped from the Rainbow Bridge and is still missing, and a friend of one of Sterlngs’ ex-girlfriends.

• March 2018 — Testimony focused on a sought-after document in a secure computer file, compensatory time slips and information from Ellis County Sheriff Charles “Chuck” Edge, who was hired as an independent investigator in the case by the city.

• May 8-9, and May 17-18, 2018 — Lynn focused in on possible enforcement of subpoenas for several people but since the case is not criminal, the rules are not enforceable.

The now former Port Arthur Police Chief Patrick Melvin was called to the stand, where he was asked about the police policy and directives that took place in 2017.

• Late May 2018 — A judge with the 60th Judicial District Court denied enforcement of administrative subpoenas in a case against Sterling.

• May 19, 2018 — Melvin, who testified in the Sterling arbitration, resigned his post abruptly.

Unlike a criminal trial, the results of the arbitration hearing will not be known immediately. Attorneys have the option of closing arguments or present 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.