Embattled city police officer Loren Casertano was fired from the department on Friday, police officials confirmed Monday.
Casertano had “multiple, serious violations of the department rules and regulations” Police Chief Joel Hurliman said.
Hurliman wouldn’t say which rules or regulations were violated.
Hurliman said the department conducted an internal affairs investigation into the alleged violations and held a “pre-termination hearing” on Thursday with Casertano.
The Valley Independent Sentinel has requested a copy of the Internal Affairs report through the Freedom of Information Act.
Calls seeking comment were left with Casertano and his attorney, Rob Serafinowicz.
Casertano has been on administrative leave from the department since 2008, after his arrest for allegedly trying to extort money from his daughter’s friend. Police claimed Casertano asked for more money than the stolen iPod was worth, then fabricated a receipt relating to the iPod.
Casertano has claimed that the department is persecuting him because he has brought to light alleged corruption in the department.
This month, Casertano was accepted into accelerated rehabilitation, a special form of probation for non-violent first-time offenders, for the iPod charges.
He had to pay $370 restitution to his daughter’s friend’s family.
Casertano had planned to fight the charges at trial, but opted for the probationary program to avoid a long, expensive trial, his attorney said at his last court date.
Casertano has a federal lawsuit pending in federal court against Hurliman and the department. The lawsuit claims leaders in the department were targeting him because he spoke out about the department.
Hurliman said he expects the lawsuit to be dismissed.
Casertano has also filed ethics complaints against Hurliman, alleging the chief mishandled an internal affairs investigation and lied about materials given to Casertano through a Freedom of Information request.
“The department is looking forward to putting this behind us and moving forward,” Hurliman said Monday. “He has made a lot of baseless complaints.”
