Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth)
via NewsEdge Corporation
FORT WORTH -- A police officer fired in October has been reinstated after being found not guilty of driving while intoxicated.
The indefinite suspension of Guillermo "Bill" Hernandez was reduced to a 60-day suspension as part of an agreement between Hernandez and former interim Police Chief Patricia Kneblick, according to documents filed with the Civil Service Commission last week.
Hernandez, 40, returned to full duty Dec. 8, the documents state.
Attorney Chris Barrett with the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, who represented Hernandez in his appeal, said Tuesday: "Bill is glad to have this behind him and is looking forward to serving the citizens of Fort Worth."
Hernandez was arrested in May after a Tarrant Regional Water District officer alleged that he had watched the off-duty officer's pickup swerve off and on the road, run a red light and almost strike another car.
According to the offense report, Hernandez told the officer that he was heading home from a bar on Camp Bowie Boulevard and that he had shifted lanes because he and his girlfriend, a passenger, were fighting.
He said the wheel had been jerked around.
He said he was unaware that he ran a red light and apologized.
The report states that while waiting for a Fort Worth supervisor to arrive at the scene, Hernandez remarked that the good things he had done should outweigh the bad and that the water district officer should "show some professional courtesy."
The officer and a Tarrant County sheriff's deputy called to the scene to assist in the traffic stop both noted a strong odor of alcohol on Hernandez and that his speech was slurred, according to the report.
Hernandez was subsequently placed on restricted duty and was terminated in October after an internal investigation into his arrest -- a decision that he appealed.
Tarrant County court records show that Hernandez was found not guilty of DWI on Nov. 14. His defense attorney, Jim Lane, did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment.
Hernandez first joined the department in 1994 but left to pursue a career in federal law enforcement after attaining the rank of sergeant. He was rehired as a Fort Worth officer in 2006.
Story From:Fort Worth Star-Telegram
via NewsEdge Corporation
FORT WORTH -- A police officer fired in October has been reinstated after being found not guilty of driving while intoxicated.
The indefinite suspension of Guillermo "Bill" Hernandez was reduced to a 60-day suspension as part of an agreement between Hernandez and former interim Police Chief Patricia Kneblick, according to documents filed with the Civil Service Commission last week.
Hernandez, 40, returned to full duty Dec. 8, the documents state.
Attorney Chris Barrett with the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, who represented Hernandez in his appeal, said Tuesday: "Bill is glad to have this behind him and is looking forward to serving the citizens of Fort Worth."
Hernandez was arrested in May after a Tarrant Regional Water District officer alleged that he had watched the off-duty officer's pickup swerve off and on the road, run a red light and almost strike another car.
According to the offense report, Hernandez told the officer that he was heading home from a bar on Camp Bowie Boulevard and that he had shifted lanes because he and his girlfriend, a passenger, were fighting.
He said the wheel had been jerked around.
He said he was unaware that he ran a red light and apologized.
The report states that while waiting for a Fort Worth supervisor to arrive at the scene, Hernandez remarked that the good things he had done should outweigh the bad and that the water district officer should "show some professional courtesy."
The officer and a Tarrant County sheriff's deputy called to the scene to assist in the traffic stop both noted a strong odor of alcohol on Hernandez and that his speech was slurred, according to the report.
Hernandez was subsequently placed on restricted duty and was terminated in October after an internal investigation into his arrest -- a decision that he appealed.
Tarrant County court records show that Hernandez was found not guilty of DWI on Nov. 14. His defense attorney, Jim Lane, did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment.
Hernandez first joined the department in 1994 but left to pursue a career in federal law enforcement after attaining the rank of sergeant. He was rehired as a Fort Worth officer in 2006.
Story From:Fort Worth Star-Telegram
