Police Officers Un-Fired For Televised Beatdown

INQUIRER: Eight Philadelphia police officers who were fired or disciplined in 2008 after a television news helicopter captured them beating three shooting suspects are getting their jobs back or having their punishments reduced, police announced yesterday. An arbitrator has ordered that the two officers who were terminated, Patrick Gallagher and Vincent Strain, be reinstated. Four other officers who were involved in the beating and later disciplined were punished too harshly, the arbitrator also found. Three of those officers were suspended, and Joseph Schiavone, a sergeant, was demoted. The arbitrator, from the American Arbitration Association, ruled that those suspended should receive back pay, lost overtime, and a reprimand. The arbitrator found that the department had no cause to punish Schiavone, and ruled that he be reinstated to his rank. Two rookie police academy graduates who were dismissed after the beatings had no standing with the arbitrator because they were in their probationary period when they were fired. But Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said that given the overall decision, they were likely to be reinstated if they applied. The decision further vindicates the officers, who were all cleared of wrongdoing by a Philadelphia grand jury in August. “This is something we expected from Day One,” said John McNesby, president of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge. “Now they can look forward to coming back to work and moving on with their lives. I’m sure it’s a big relief, not just for them but for their families.” MORE