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[Ripclawe]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19636151

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.

 

[Count Dookkake]

F him.

 

[Lamel]

F him.

.

Just a jerk cop.

 

[Escape Goat]

88 miles per hourrrrr!


But, screw this guy. He should not be allowed near a gun or placed in a position of authority.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

Let me guess Ripclawe, this is a reason why unions shouldn't exist.

Oh, and screw the ex cop.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

143 MPH! Holy fucking shit. How the fuck do you get only a $300 fine and 100 hours community service. You should never be aloud to drive again if you are that fucking stupid.

 

[neutralgamer02]

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.

That is all? WTF? F this guy.

 

[NoRéN]

143 MPH! Holy fucking shit. How the fuck do you get only a $300 fine and 100 hours community service. You should never be aloud to drive again if you are that fucking stupid.

He was a cop. Regular rules don't apply.

I'm surprised he wasn't just reassigned.

 

[Dishwalla]

The "He's a cop" thing is just as bullshit as "He/She's a celebrity". No, fuck that, they are still humans, they still broke the law, so they should fry just as much as any of us would.

 

[Chuck (Old)]

I'm surprised the jury let him off so easy.

Obviously he is not fit to be in a position of power.

 

[Darkmakaimura]

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.

When this baby hits 88 mph above the speed limit, you're gonna see some serious shit!

 

[GaimeGuy]

am I missing something?

Colorado uses a point system for DMV violations. 12 points in any 12 month period = automatic license suspension for a year.

After some quick searching, a speeding violation where an individual is driving 45 MPH over the speed limit is a 12 point offense. Never mind the DUI or other charges.

Why isn't this cop having his license suspended? Because he pled guilty? or is it because he's a cop? :/

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

A double whammy on this one. He should not get his job back.

 

[NoRéN]

am I missing something?

Colorado uses a point system for DMV violations. 12 points in any 12 month period = automatic license suspension for a year.

After some quick searching, a speeding violation where an individual is driving 45 MPH over the speed limit is a 12 point offense. Never mind the DUI or other charges.

Why isn't this cop having his license suspended? Because he pled guilty? or is it because he's a cop? :/

It's possible that his attorney and prosecutors agreed to a lesser sentence if he pled guilty as opposed to a no contest plea. However, it's hard to ignore the possibility that the sentence was not as severe due to him being a cop.

 

[Onemic]

am I missing something?

Colorado uses a point system for DMV violations. 12 points in any 12 month period = automatic license suspension for a year.

After some quick searching, a speeding violation where an individual is driving 45 MPH over the speed limit is a 12 point offense. Never mind the DUI or other charges.

Why isn't this cop having his license suspended? Because he pled guilty? or is it because he's a cop? :/

Well if cops get get off for pretty much murdering a guy in cold blood, they can easily get off on a DUI charge

 

[NervousXtian]

What kind of car was he driving where he went that fast? Holy shit.

 

[HeySeuss]

1. Nowhere does it say he didn't get his license suspended. And that would not prohibit him from being a cop because you can get driving privileges for work.

2. He's not getting his job back. Especially when the union rep had no comment, because there is no way he will win.

 

[Steelrain]

Fuuuuuuck!!! I would shit my pants driving that fast! Drunk or not!

This guy sounds crazy and should definitely not be a cop.

 

[Chuck (Old)]

What kind of car was he driving where he went that fast? Holy shit.

Police cruisers have pretty souped up engines.

 

[Zizbuka]

There's no way they should hire him back. If they do, he better be on permanent desk duty. Imagine the accusations if he does anything not exactly by the book.

Can you even sue a police force?

 

[mackattk]

Police cruisers have pretty souped up engines.

He was driving a friends car. From how the story reads, it doesn't sound like he was using a police cruiser.

 

[GDGF]

SURE NO PROBLEM!

Spoiler

fuck him

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Police cruisers have pretty souped up engines.

What about the car he was driving?

 

[kittens]

He can just move to a near by city and get a job there. Happens all the time, even for cops who murder.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

He can just move to a near by city and get a job there. Happens all the time, even for cops who murder.

What?

 

[slit]

Hey, some cops think they rule the fucking planet. When he got away with misconduct before, it probably just reinforced his thinking he could do what he wants. He doesn't have to play by the same rules so, in his mind, it is unfair.

 

[MWS Natural]

Well if cops get get off for pretty much murdering a guy in cold blood, they can easily get off on a DUI charge

Damn that's messed up.

 

[tak]

I drive the road that he did this on all the time and I couldn't image going that fast on it! It's a straight road, but it's not a smooth one!

 

[AdventureRacing]

I think this cop is getting off way too lightly.

Well if cops get get off for pretty much murdering a guy in cold blood, they can easily get off on a DUI charge

What the fuck? How could they possibly get away with such a disgusting murder?

 

[Parallax Scroll]

Yep, he got off easy cause he's a cop.

 

[ChiTownBuffalo]

Denver cops. *shrug*