Arbitrator reinstates officer who punched handcuffed woman

SEATTLE – An arbitrator has ruled that a Seattle police officer who was fired for punching a drunk, handcuffed woman in the face after she kicked at him in an incident captured on video must be reinstated to his job with back pay.

The Seattle Times reports arbitrator Jane Wilkinson wrote in a 35-page opinion issued Tuesday that the penalty of discharge for Officer Adley Sheperd’s offense, after taking into account the various mitigating considerations, was excessive.

Shepherd’s discipline instead will be a 15-day suspension.

The decision by Wilkinson – the neutral party of a three-member police Disciplinary Review Board – effectively broke a tie on determining whether Shepherd’s discipline was just.

City Attorney spokesman Dan Nolte says they strongly disagree with the decision.

Seattle Police Officers’ Guild President Kevin Stuckey said the union was pleased.

A lawyer for Miyekko Durden-Bosley, the woman whom Shepherd punched, called the ruling disappointing.

Shepherd didn’t respond to a request for comment.