By Police1 Staff
MIAMI — A Miami police officer is fighting for his job back after he was fired for routinely speeding off-duty in his cruiser.
Fausto Lopez said at an arbitration hearing Tuesday that Chief Manuel Orosa promised him that he would not be fired even after he had been stopped by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper for driving in excess of 120 miles per hour, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
“An allegation that I was driving recklessly is incorrect,” said Lopez. “For someone like me who has children, I don’t want to jeopardize anybody else.”
Orosa maintains that he told Lopez his fate depended on his criminal case and referred him to his attorney.
Lopez was driving to a second job in October 2011 when Trooper Jane Watts clocked him at 120 mph and pursued him, drawing her gun after he finally pulled over, according to the report.
He was fired in September 2012 after an investigation found that Lopez was a habitual speeder.