News Stories Archive FIRED DALLAS OFFICERS ACCUSED OF
Three fired Dallas police officers who were accused of using excessive force while arresting a man after a May car chase have been reinstated by an assistant city manager. Officers Ricardo Rodriguez and James Walker received suspensions of six weeks without pay, and Senior Cpl. Gregory Fanucci was given a one-month suspension without pay. “I have no doubt the officers used excessive force, which is why I’m applying discipline, but I don’t believe the excessive force was such that it warranted, in essence, throwing away some 43 years of exceptional performance,” Assistant City Manager Ramon Miguez said Monday. “All three of the officers had very exemplary resumes with nothing but commendations.” He also ruled that the Dallas Police Department would provide the officers with back pay and benefits, minus the length of suspensions. He said they can return to work as soon as the paperwork is processed. Mr. Miguez said he respected Police Chief Terrell Bolton’s position and “the very strong message that he’s sending his troops,” but he said he did not agree that dismissal was the best position for the city. Chief Bolton fired the officers in November after finding that they used “ inappropriate force” in the arrest. “The officers used the appeals process, but Chief Bolton still stands by his decision,” said Janice Houston, a police spokeswoman. Video from a local television news helicopter showed the officers struggling with Sonny Morris and hitting him after the chase, which stopped in the 7300 block of Harry Hines Boulevard. A Dallas County grand jury had declined to indict the three officers on assault charges. Mr. Morris is serving time in a state prison after pleading guilty to several offenses, including burglary of a residence, credit card abuse, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest. Attorneys for Mr. Morris filed a federal lawsuit Nov. 4 charging that the officers violated his civil rights and used “excessive and unreasonable force.” The attorneys could not be reached for comment Monday. “The officers are definitely pleased to have their jobs back,” said Rhonda Cates, an attorney representing the officers. “We believe it is obvious that they were simply doing their job and using defensive tactics that they were taught by the department in an all-out fight with this felon and were simply trying to get him under arrest.” She said two of the officers had been staying home taking care of their children, and the third had been working in construction. Recently, several of Chief Bolton’s disciplinary decisions have been overturned. Last month, an administrative law judge ordered that a Dallas police officer who was fired after he pointed his service weapon at another officer be reinstated and complete a 30-day suspension. Officer John Roberts, fired in July, was scheduled to return to work on Saturday. His attorney had called the incident a “childish prank.” Sgt. Michael Gurley, a 26- year veteran, had been demoted in October over accusations that he used a racial epithet in the presence of minority subordinates. He had his rank reinstated by another assistant city manager in January. He was suspended without pay for 30 workdays. By Tanya Eiserer |