Posted on 11/20/2012 1:00:56 PM PST by FreedomPoster
CANTON —
Fired police officer Daniel Harless could get his job back if he gets medical clearance to return to work.
An arbitrator hearing Harless’ appeal ruled in the former patrolman’s favor. The 15-page ruling was dated Saturday and released by the city Wednesday.
Harless’ attorney indicated his client is unlikely to seek his old job, at least for now. He has been receiving workers’ compensation and has applied for a disability retirement pension.
But Harless now has the right to be back on the job, according to arbitrator Harry Graham.
PAST VIDEOS ON HARLESS: • VIDEO: Canton officer threatens citizen. July 28, 2011 • VIDEO: Harless behaving badly again? July 28, 2011 • VIDEO: Harless under investigation again? Aug 26, 2011
“Return to active service, if ever, is to be determined by competent medical authority,” wrote Graham, an arbitrator since 1972 and a retired professor of industrial relations at Cleveland State University.
Harless found himself at the center of an Internet-spurred firestorm after a police car video captured him threatening a man he pulled over about 1:40 a.m. in an area with a reputation for drugs and prostitutes.
During that June 2011 traffic stop, Harless screamed profanities and said he wouldn’t have lost any sleep if he would have shot and killed William Bartlett of Brewster. Harless had become enraged after he discovered Bartlett had a loaded .38-caliber pistol, which he was permitted to carry.
“As soon as I felt your gun, I should have took two steps back, pulled my Glock 40 and just put 10 bullets in your ass and let you drop,” the officer screams in the video. During the flurry, Harless also said he should have gunned Bartlett down for being stupid.
The video went viral on the Internet after being posted by Ohioans for Concealed Carry.
‘CONDUCT WAS DEFENSIBLE’
In January, Safety Director Thomas Ream fired Harless for making threats during multiple traffic stops. Ream cited a pattern of verbal abuse and making physical or death threats.
The safety director said the arbitrator had more information about the incidents. Unlike the city’s disciplinary hearing, when Harless was advised by a medical professional not to participate, he testified and answered questions at the arbitration hearing.
“This is not a shocking ruling given all the things that were present for the arbitrator,” he said. “So we will abide by this ruling, and if officer Harless is able to get his medical clearance, we’ll let him back on the police department.”
Ping.
An unhappy follow up to a story that was well-discussed here earlier.
Well don’t that just stink.
No words...
Union Lawyer Reps, ain’t they grand?
I have a ‘friend’ who was a (now-retired) Manhattan bus driver. Made tons of money. He has been fired 6 or 7 times for showing up late, missing days, hitting stuff... always hired back due to his Union Lawyer Rep’s intervention.
Amazing. Just amazing.
This guy is gonna end up killing someone - bank on it.
I wouldn’t hire that jackass to flip burgers or say “Welcome to Wal*Mart”.
it would seem the guy is not fit to carry a badge or a firearm but sadly, apparently he is
I never thought that I would live to see the day that a majority of people that lived in the Uinited States would so gleefully consent to becoming slaves. But here it is.
,If I recall correctly, right after his firing and before some form of payment to him kicked in, the whole department kicked in to pay him out of their own pockets, for some months.
THE ENTIRE DEPT IS CORRUPT.
Den of psycho dog shooters? It does appear that way.
Let me guess, the doctor must be a podiatrist for a nasty bunion, right? Or perhaps Harless is under "other" medical care and after being given enough Thorazine he will be adjudicated to be safe enough to handle a firearm, just so long as no one really p#$(%#(s him off like cutting in front of him at the donut shop.
This guy is borderline psycho. He should not be a cop and should not be out in the public. He is a public danger.
...and then his lawyer will get him off scott free.
This guy sounds unhinged... like it was ‘roid rage or something.
Every Wednesday morning I stop at a fast food restaurant for coffee and there are at least 5 or 6 LEOs having breakfast there every time I stop. Even if one is at the same counter as I am, getting cream, sugar, whatever, I don’t say hello, I don’t nod, I don’t acknowledge them whatsoever. LEOs are nothing but legalized gangs as far as I’m concerned and I have no respect for them whatsoever.
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