Fired Texas Cop Reinstated by Arbitrator

A San Antonio Police lieutenant will return to work after an arbitrator partially exonerated him and criticized the internal affairs division for being biased against the officer.

Lt. Lee Rakun won the appeal of his termination by Chief William McManus, who placed him on indefinite suspension, tantamount to being fired, last year. It was the 15th disciplinary action taken against him in his 19-year career and the third time he faced termination, reports the San Antonio Express-News .

The arbitrator upheld two of the four violations used as the basis to fire Rakun and gave the officer a 45-day suspension. Rakun will receive back pay for the remaining missed time.

The firing stemmed from an accusation by a Bexar County deputy constable that Rakun used racial slurs when trying to gain entry to a restaurant where he worked during an off-duty security detail.