Cop fired for beating teen will get wages
Updated Sept. 29, 2004, 11:52 a.m. ET
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — A police officer fired for punching a black teenager and slamming him against a patrol car should not be reinstated, but should be compensated for lost wages and awarded a financial settlement, an arbitrator has recommended.
Although former Officer Jeremy Morse acted inappropriately during the confrontation, he did not use excessive force as police officials concluded, the arbitrator recommended in a decision released Monday.
A bystander videotaped Morse, who is white, punching handcuffed Donovan Jackson in the head and picking him up and slamming him onto a patrol car on July 6, 2002. Morse said he was reacting to Jackson grabbing his testicles.
He was twice charged with assault under color of authority but juries in both cases failed to reach a verdict.
Arbitrator Donald A. Anderson said the city of Inglewood violated Morse's rights by firing him without properly investigating the incident.
The arbitrator said the claims of excessive force should be removed from Morse's personnel file and he should be awarded back pay minus any salary he has received since leaving the department. The city should also negotiate a settlement to address the "adverse impact on his professional career," he ruled.
Morse's attorney said the former officer was pleased with the decision.
Assistant City Attorney Kenneth Campos did not immediately return a call for comment. The city has the option of rejecting Anderson's recommendation.
Article URL:
http://www.courttv.com/news/2004/0929/wages_ap.html
Updated Sept. 29, 2004, 11:52 a.m. ET
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — A police officer fired for punching a black teenager and slamming him against a patrol car should not be reinstated, but should be compensated for lost wages and awarded a financial settlement, an arbitrator has recommended.
Although former Officer Jeremy Morse acted inappropriately during the confrontation, he did not use excessive force as police officials concluded, the arbitrator recommended in a decision released Monday.
A bystander videotaped Morse, who is white, punching handcuffed Donovan Jackson in the head and picking him up and slamming him onto a patrol car on July 6, 2002. Morse said he was reacting to Jackson grabbing his testicles.
He was twice charged with assault under color of authority but juries in both cases failed to reach a verdict.
Arbitrator Donald A. Anderson said the city of Inglewood violated Morse's rights by firing him without properly investigating the incident.
The arbitrator said the claims of excessive force should be removed from Morse's personnel file and he should be awarded back pay minus any salary he has received since leaving the department. The city should also negotiate a settlement to address the "adverse impact on his professional career," he ruled.
Morse's attorney said the former officer was pleased with the decision.
Assistant City Attorney Kenneth Campos did not immediately return a call for comment. The city has the option of rejecting Anderson's recommendation.
Article URL:
http://www.courttv.com/news/2004/0929/wages_ap.html