Post by WaTcHeR on Nov 10, 2006 16:17:50 GMT -5
11.10.2006 - ALBUQUERQUE -- An Albuquerque police officer accused of misconduct after a friend was arrested for DWI has been fired.
Chief Ray Schultz terminated Officer Ben Kirby this afternoon.
The chief met with Kirby this afternoon to give him his final decision.
In August, Kirby was accused of trying to take his friend and drunk-driving suspect Jason Daskalos out of the APD mobile DWI booking center to keep him from going to jail.
There was an internal affairs investigation.
After reviewing the results of the investigation, Schultz recommended earlier this month that Kirby be fired for his misconduct.
Kirby then requested a hearing with the chief to try to keep his job, but nothing he said swayed the chief's decision.
“It was a serious violation of department policies and protocols,” APD spokesman John Walsh said. “This is administrative action that has taken place.
“There’s still that criminal proceeding that has a possibility."
Kirby was a SWAT officer and had been with the department for five years. KRQE News 13 was unable to contact him this afternoon for comment.
The results of the investigation have been sent to the district attorney's office to decide if any criminal charges will be filed.
www.krqe.com/expanded.asp?ID=17864