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Trooper Gets Bittersweet Ruling and His Job

Ruling to be appealed

State Trooper Charles Swindle was fired for cutting lawmakers a break and writing tickets for lesser offenses. Now an appeals panel says the punishment was too severe and is giving Swindle his job back with a three week suspension. The decision is bittersweet, because it gives the agency stronger grounds to fire Swindle in the future. Lawyer Sid Matthew says they will appeal because he never should have been found guilty in the first place.

“The decision is erroneous on it’s face, because we prove that there was an unwritten rule of the FHP, and that he followed it with his supervisor’s blessing, he should no be disciplined, and his record should not blotted with a finding that he’s guilting with just cause for violating an agency policy” says Matthew.

The appeal will be before three appellate judges and could take up to a year. Swindle should get his job back right away unless the agency appeals as well.

The appeal will be before three appellate judges and could take up to a year. Swindle should get his job back right away unless the agency appeals as well.