Canton officer who threatened permit holder fired

[carver952]

http://gunssavelives.net/blog/officer-d ... from-dept/

[farmerj]

the union is fighting to get him re-instated because as a result of this incident, he has been diagnosed as a victim of PTSD from an incident that occurred 8 years ago when a suspect bit his finger going for his gun.

http://www.indeonline.com/news/x6383393 ... lice-force

‘ESCALATING PATTERN’

In the decision, Ream said he drew from his law-enforcement background.

“I find that ... Harless’ actions were not a one-time breakdown of professionalism and training standards,” he wrote.

The police administration concluded the appropriate discipline would be firing Harless, according to Ream’s report. Police Chief Dean McKimm could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Harless was placed on medical leave and other officers donated their sick days to him when his paid sick-leave time ran out.

The union had asked for an extension for the disciplinary hearing due to Harless’ being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Obviously, it’s an unfortunate set of circumstances that transpired,” Adams said. “We feel that due to the fact that (Harless) has PTSD, that nobody realized it for eight-plus years, for it to come to light the way it did ... this is not a way we wanted this to play out. PTSD is obviously a disease.”

Adams said that the incident that sparked the illness occurred in 2003 when a suspect nearly bit off Harless’ finger while trying to get the officer’s gun.

“Here’s a guy who was in a life-and-death situation,” Adams said, adding that since the June incident came to light, Harless has been diagnosed several times with PTSD.

“Most people that have a bad day on their job can go home, put their legs up and relax,” Adams said. “We can go home from our jobs in a body bag or with a serious physical injury from the hospital.”

(my comment)
Or they put someone else in a body bag because they are having a bad hair day.

[Countryfried Frank]

I feel sorry for Harless. It is a shame that it took 8 years and 3 incidents like this for him to come to the realization that he's better suited for a different line of work.

[cmxterra]

Needs more mention of Jail Time