Bellevue police officer's firing overturned

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10588900

Published Tuesday March 17, 2009
Bellevue police officer's firing overturned
BY LEIA BAEZ
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A former Bellevue Police officer fired for being overweight could be back patrolling the streets in a few months.


Christopher Parent


The Nebraska Court of Appeals, in an opinion released Tuesday, reversed the Bellevue Civil Service Commission’s decision upholding the termination of Christopher D. Parent.

Parent, 52, had been a member of the Police Department for more than 25 years, mostly as a detective, but had been reassigned to road patrol. His firing stemmed from his performance during an Aug. 28 combat shooting exercise, which prompted officers to report him to the command staff.

Parent was fired Nov. 28, 2007, after an internal investigation determined that he had not maintained a "high level of physical, mental and emotional conditioning."

Bellevue Police Lt. Mark Elbert has said Parent, whose 2005-issued Nebraska driver’s license lists him at 5-foot-9 and 300 pounds, was fired under a policy that requires officers to be physically fit.


FULL story at link.