Little Rock Cop Fired--Again
By: Lauren Trager, KARK 4 News
Updated: August 8, 2012
A Little Rock officer is out of a job---again.
Wednesday, a judge reversed a commission's opinion to re-hire a cop after he was caught on camera saying a racial slur.
The hearing lasted just about three hours before the judge said he thought Officer David Edgmon should not be patrolling the streets.
You may remember, back in May 2010, Officer Edgmon caught on camera using a racial slur after getting upset in the River Market because he felt someone was blowing marijuana smoke in his face.
The chief of police fired the officer in August of that year.
The department said it shed bad light on the force and showed bad judgment.
But the civil service commission gave Officer Edgmon his job back, saying instead, he should receive a 30 day suspension.
The City of Little Rock appealed here to Circuit Court.
Robert Newcomb Officer Edgmon's attorney argued in court today that another officer, who is black, wasn't fired for a similar racial slur.
He says the judge's decision Wednesday helps enforce a double standard.
"I think there are going to be some white officers who aren't happy with it, and I think it's just an overreach by the city," Newcomb said.
The city, though, argued the circumstances between the two cases are different.
The judge ruled that officer Edgmon can keep his job until the appeals process is over.
Edgmon's attorney says they plan to keep fighting.
