Subject: Denver cop fired for driving drunk at 143 mph wants job back Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:59 pm
Quote :
A Denver police officer fired for driving 88 mph above the speed limit while intoxicated has appealed his dismissal, arguing that the penalty is unfair and overly harsh.
Derrick Curtis Saunders, who had previously been cleared of charges he pointed a gun at a McDonald's employee in 2009, was arrested for speeding and DUI by the Colorado State Patrol. He couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.
Saunders was traveling 143 mph in a 55-mph zone on June 17, 2010, according to the order terminating him, issued by Manager of Safety Alex Martinez on Dec. 7.
A Colorado State Patrol officer stopped him on Gun Club Road in Arapahoe County and found his blood-alcohol level was 0.089 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08.
"The extraordinary high speed alone is stunning. The fact that you drove at this dangerous speed while your ability to drive was impaired by alcohol is shocking. In addition, you were driving at night and with a passenger in the car," Martinez wrote.
Saunders was driving a friend's car when he flew past the trooper. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and to reckless driving. An Arapahoe County Court judge sentenced him to five days in jail, fined him $300 and ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service, according to court records.
"Your misconduct demonstrates a willful and wanton disregard of Department values and demonstrates a serious lack of character related to fitness to hold the position of police officer, a Category F violation," Martinez wrote.
Saunders' appeal to the Denver Civil Service Commission asserts that Martinez's findings and penalties are "unfounded and/or unsupported by the facts" and violate principles of fundamental fairness.
The penalty is "disproportionate to the offenses alleged and/or is excessive so as to be punitive rather than corrective in nature," according to the appeal, filed by the Denver Police Protective Association's lawyers.
Nick Rogers, the union's president, didn't return a call for comment.
An Arapahoe County jury cleared Saunders of felony menacing and weapons charges after an employee of a McDonald's accused him of pulling a gun when he grew impatient waiting for his food.
Hello! to all you on aw.
And especially "hola!" to all those who remember a fragment of me; tonyflow.
im looking forward to be a little active again after all these years, take good care of me!
Hello, all! As you may see, I am new to the new forum, but I was a part of the previous ones. I wasn't very active then, but this time around, I will change that! *insert inspirational baby fist pump picture here*
<.< >.>
You may or may not have heard of me on the other forum, but I am no longer the super unfamous Rejected, but the incredibly noobish RetardLover. The new name fits more of my …
Anyway, my anime preferences are cyberpunk, horror and supernatural based, but i'm also a typical 90's kid who grew up on Akira, Bebop, Ghosts in Shells, Gundam Wing, DBZ and most anime shown on Toonami and Adult Swim. I enjoy a generous amount of anime outside of those years so take me as open minded in terms of anime discussion.
My Name is Kakalicious and its nice to meet you!
Some of you may know be by a different username and thats cool too
but I decided this was a better name for a forum
I don't see many of my old AW friends around so I hope that they show up and I make new friends as well! oh if you have any questions for me please ask I try to be as kind as possible <3
and I can speak a little Japanese …3>
Hi! Iam new! Nice to meet all of you, i havent been on a forum in like 3 years o.o so iam a litle rusty on my....forum skillz kyaaa ahahaha xD *shuts up now* ^-^ Oh and my name is Ana! ~~~~~Thats all you will get outa me mwahahaha!
Nah jk its only me well i was a dummie and forgot my password yadda yadda
been creepin around the internet and i finally ended up here so Hello im Pup if you don't already know me or forgot since ive been gone...
I like rainbows and ponies and the sweet blood of my enemies
well i think i'll go to bed though its like 1am and i have school