2 Fired Denver Officers To Remain Off Force

DENVER (AP) -- Two police officers fired for lying in an excessive force case will remain off the police force while the city appeals their reinstatement.

The Denver Post reports that the Denver Civil Service Commission Tuesday granted a stay of an earlier panel's order to reinstate Devin Sparks and Randy Murr. In a three-page ruling, the commission says a hearing panel's decision in September to reinstate the officers was based on a technicality and not the merits of the case.

The hearing panel ruled that former Manager of Safety Ron Perea did not have the authority to overturn his earlier decision of three days discipline for the officers and reopen the investigation that led to their firing.

Both officers were involved in the high profile videotaped beating of a suspect.

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