snuffy
05-15-2009, 01:36 PM
Fired Norman police officer ordered reinstated
http://www.newsok.com/fired-norman-police-officer-ordered-reinstated/article/3369663?custom_click=headlines_widget
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 15, 2009
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — A Norman police officer fired after shooting a naked man who he said tried to run him over has been ordered to be reinstated.
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But officer John Terry says despite the April 28 order by an arbitrator he has not been reinstated and he can't get the city attorney to return his phone calls.
City Attorney Jeff Bryant did not return a phone call for comment.
Attorney Tony Puckett represented the city at the arbitration hearing and says the city is reviewing its options. Puckett said he can't answer whether the city will appeal the arbitrator's ruling.
"The arbitration decision did not address the conduct of the officer," Puckett said. "The arbitration decision was based on a technicality and the arbitrator's findings."
Terry was fired in September 2008, two months after the shooting at a Norman apartment complex.
Terry said he responded July 26 to a report of a naked man, later identified as Sang Van Nguyen, lying in the front seat of a car. He said as he approached the vehicle, Nguyen put the car in reverse and tried to run him over.
Terry said he was holding onto the car as it drove away and fired one shot at Nguyen as he started to accelerate. Nguyen, 38, was treated and released from a Norman hospital and later charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
According to the city's complaint, Terry's actions directly led to the use of deadly force because he tried to extricate Nguyen from a moving vehicle, contrary to his training.
But the arbitrator, Pedro Molina, did not rule on the merits of the city's complaint, finding instead that the officer was denied due process in the firing.
Terry said he and his attorney have tried unsuccessfully to contact the City of Norman.
"They are refusing any calls from the FOP, and they will not allow me to go back to work and are refusing to comply with the decision," Terry said.
He said he just wants to find out either if the City of Norman plans to appeal the decision, or when he can return to work.
"They are basically refusing to respond," he said.
This link is to a longer article from the Norman Transcript.
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=79831833526&h=ECftY&u=QDdsz
http://www.newsok.com/fired-norman-police-officer-ordered-reinstated/article/3369663?custom_click=headlines_widget
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 15, 2009
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — A Norman police officer fired after shooting a naked man who he said tried to run him over has been ordered to be reinstated.
Advertisement
Click here to find out more!
But officer John Terry says despite the April 28 order by an arbitrator he has not been reinstated and he can't get the city attorney to return his phone calls.
City Attorney Jeff Bryant did not return a phone call for comment.
Attorney Tony Puckett represented the city at the arbitration hearing and says the city is reviewing its options. Puckett said he can't answer whether the city will appeal the arbitrator's ruling.
"The arbitration decision did not address the conduct of the officer," Puckett said. "The arbitration decision was based on a technicality and the arbitrator's findings."
Terry was fired in September 2008, two months after the shooting at a Norman apartment complex.
Terry said he responded July 26 to a report of a naked man, later identified as Sang Van Nguyen, lying in the front seat of a car. He said as he approached the vehicle, Nguyen put the car in reverse and tried to run him over.
Terry said he was holding onto the car as it drove away and fired one shot at Nguyen as he started to accelerate. Nguyen, 38, was treated and released from a Norman hospital and later charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
According to the city's complaint, Terry's actions directly led to the use of deadly force because he tried to extricate Nguyen from a moving vehicle, contrary to his training.
But the arbitrator, Pedro Molina, did not rule on the merits of the city's complaint, finding instead that the officer was denied due process in the firing.
Terry said he and his attorney have tried unsuccessfully to contact the City of Norman.
"They are refusing any calls from the FOP, and they will not allow me to go back to work and are refusing to comply with the decision," Terry said.
He said he just wants to find out either if the City of Norman plans to appeal the decision, or when he can return to work.
"They are basically refusing to respond," he said.
This link is to a longer article from the Norman Transcript.
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=79831833526&h=ECftY&u=QDdsz