A veteran Vicksburg police officer out of work since an accident left him injured early this year was denied an appearance before the Civil Service Commission Wednesday.

Rudolph Walker, a 30-year officer, said he suffered back injuries and possibly nerve damage in a wreck in January while he was on duty and has been &#8220sent home” by the police department, his attorney, Richard Dean, has said.

The commission based its decision on the recommendation of Lamar Horton, human resources director for the city, who said Walker’s doctor had not cleared him to return to duty after the accident, and that the officer was being paid about two-thirds of his salary under the state worker’s compensation plan. Walker’s first recourse would be with worker’s comp officials, he said.

&#8220It appears to the commission that the matter as it currently stands is not properly brought before the commission,” said chairman Joe Graham, who also ordered a letter be sent to Walker, not present at the meeting, explaining the denial. &#8220It could be at some future time, but not now.”

The commission has jurisdiction over hiring, firing, promotions, transfers and disciplinary actions. Its purpose is to assure that any such actions taken with regard to police or fire personnel are job-related, not due to political influence.

Police records show Walker was driving his police sedan south on U.S. 61 South and was stopped at a traffic signal at its intersection with Grange Hall Road when it was rear-ended by a 1997 Saturn due to brake failure at 10:18 p.m. on Jan. 4.

Walker has said he should have been allowed to come back to the department on light duty. Horton said light duty for a police officer was not a viable option.

An unrelated suit filed by Walker against the city earlier this month asks for at least $250,000 in damages under the Americans with Disabilities Act for a months-long, unpaid absence from work he served last year while his medical status was in question. The city argued Walker provided insufficient information for it to determine whether he was fit for duty and placed him on unpaid leave from June 2 until Sept. 15.

Dean argued Walker’s case in November before the commission, which upheld the city’s action but said &#8220all parties could have better handled the issue of obtaining a timely verification of (Walker’s) fitness for duty.”

Dean called that ruling &#8220self-contradictory” and appealed it to Warren County Circuit Court. That appeal is pending.

In other business, the commission: