Attorney: El Protector cleared of wrong doing
By
Ray Gomez
Story Created:
Aug 12, 2009
Story Updated:
Aug 18, 2009
Lawyers for Laredo police officer Abraham Diaz better known as
“El Protector” are expected to make an announcement later today regarding his temporary suspension from the department back in February.
On February 20th, officer Diaz was given a 10-day suspension without pay.
Today his attorney George Altgelt says the Laredo police department did a poor job at investigating the claims and officer Diaz has been cleared of *any* wrong doing.
Accusations against Diaz included drinking intoxicants while on duty.
It all came after a complaint when a gas station employee allegedly found officer Diaz asleep behind the wheel of his personal vehicle with the engine on and parked at the convenience store.
According to Altgelt, Diaz did not properly fill-out a time-off from duty form, which led police to believe he was working during the incident.
Since the *suspension* took place officer Diaz was re-assigned as a patrol officer in west Laredo and the “El Protector” program he was recognized for bringing national attention to was discontinued.
He was also ordered by the police department to stop appearing in television interviews and was pulled off the air from his duties providing coverage of traffic conditions during the Pro 8 News morning newscast.
It’s not yet known if any of those changes will be reversed.
The chief of police is currently out of town and has not been able to comment yet today.
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Swiney said on Wednesday, Aug 12 at 5:41 PM
Pasa la botello chico!
27665386What said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 11:21 PM
Why was Diaz behind the wheel asleep with the engine running and with his fire arm? Forget the paper work not being filled out correctly, why was this cop asleep anyone could have taken his weapon and harmed him or others. Was his condition due to medical reasons or was it due to a few too many "spirits" taken?
27731106A.M. said on Saturday, Aug 15 at 9:59 AM
Wow! That lawyer sure earned his pay on this one. He makes it sound oh-so-innocent. Unfortunately, in the court of public opinion, Diaz's excuses sound a little too far-fetched. Not only that, but any other citizen found in a similar situation would have received stiff punishment. We need to hold our public servants to a higher standard. We let them get away with too much, hence the current state of our community is so negative.
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