The video made national headlines -- a Phoenix Police officer caught on camera tackling a teenage girl.
The chief of police wants to suspend that officer, but the officer says it's too harsh, and he's appealing the decision.
That officer is fighting a 5-day suspension. He believes he acted within policy, but a disciplinary review board and the chief don't think so.
It's been two years since video of Officer Patrick Larrison surfaced online, and the debate continues, did Officer Larrison use excessive force when he pushed a 15-year-old girl to the ground?
Police were called to the school after a drunk teenager got into a fight with her teacher -- then started walking away from officers.
"It's a case in which we have varying opinions and differing opinions about use of force," said Phoenix Police Sgt. Trent Crump about the video last year.
Crump made the comment just before Larrison went before a disciplinary review board. Now the department can't comment on the case.
Sources tell us the board recommended a 32-hour suspension. But Chief Daniel Garcia thought the punishment should be more severe and gave Larrison a 40-hour or 5-day suspension. Typically that's the maximum number of days you can suspend an officer.
Larrison has now appealed the chief's decision and he'll go through a city civil service hearing. Sources tell us Larrison has at least three experts within the department who watched the video and agree he acted within policy.
Acting within policy is one thing -- but the board will have to decide if what he did was within reason considering it involved a teenage girl.
In the past, it's been unusual for the police chief to impose a harsher penalty than the DRB recommends.
But Chief Daniel Garcia is new and has taken a pretty firm stance against officers who he believes violate policy.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:55 PM EDT2013-06-20 02:55:03 GMT
The actor James Gandolfini, best known for his award-winning portrayal of New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano in the HBO series "The Sopranos," has died in Italy. He was 51.
The actor James Gandolfini, best known for his award-winning portrayal of New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano in the HBO series "The Sopranos," has died in Italy. He was 51.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:53 PM EDT2013-06-20 02:53:25 GMT
Joe Torre's daughter caught a 1-year-old boy who fell from a fire escape outside a second-floor apartment in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn Wednesday morning.
Joe Torre's daughter caught a 1-year-old boy who fell from a fire escape outside a second-floor apartment in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn Wednesday morning.
New York state and Eastman Kodak Co. have reached a deal that will keep some of the troubled company's operations in Rochester and provide $49 million for environmental cleanup at the once bustling Eastman...
New York state and Eastman Kodak Co. have reached a deal that will keep some of the troubled company's operations in Rochester and provide $49 million for environmental cleanup at the once bustling Eastman Business Park.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:51 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:51:22 GMT
Franklin Reyes, 17, was in court Wednesday. He is charged with the death of 4-year-old Ariel Russo.
Franklin Reyes, 17, was in court Wednesday. He is charged with the death of 4-year-old Ariel Russo. He is accused of driving without a license, then fleeing police, jumping a curb, and hitting Ariel and her grandmother as they were walking to school.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:13:15 GMT
More than 70 percent of New Jersey residents have seen or heard the state's "Stronger than the Storm" advertising campaign, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll.
More than 70 percent of New Jersey residents have seen or heard the state's "Stronger than the Storm" advertising campaign, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 4:30 PM EDT2013-06-19 20:30:42 GMT
The FBI has found possible human remains in a dig at the New York City house once occupied by a famous gangster. An FBI spokesman confirmed Wednesday that agents found material that they want to test as part of an investigation.
The FBI has found possible human remains in a dig at the New York City house once occupied by a famous gangster. An FBI spokesman confirmed Wednesday that agents found material that they want to test as part of an investigation.
Officer Patrick Larrison
