FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A Fort Worth police sergeant has been reinstated more than a year after he was fired for ordering a rookie officer to use a stun gun on a woman who had called for help during a domestic dispute.
Fort Worth police Sgt. Kenneth Pierce had appealed his termination and was reinstated Wednesday after an agreement was reached with the city.
The agreement came after Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson earlier determined that the 2017 arrest of the woman was lawful. The charge against her was later dropped.
Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald fired Pierce, who is white, in December 2017 and said at the time that the 22-year veteran became impatient and needlessly initiated the physical confrontation with the woman, who is black.
The confrontation came months after another one involving a white officer and black woman that drew criticism of police actions from civil leaders.