WA officer fired for DUI may regain job, back pay

By Associated Press

CREATED Feb. 22, 2012

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- A Spokane police officer fired in 2009 after driving drunk while off duty, hitting a pickup with his truck and leaving the scene of the collision is likely to be rehired and get more than two years of back pay -- totaling about $275,000.

The Spokesman Review reports that in a settlement mediated by the Washington State Human Rights Commission, Brad Thoma will be rehired March 1 in a demoted position of detective -- if the Spokane City Council agrees to the deal on Monday.

Prior to his firing in December 2009, Thoma was a sergeant.

Under the agreement, the city will also pay his attorney $15,000. Thoma's attorney, Bob Dunn, argues that job-related stress led Thoma to alcoholism and should be regarded as a disability.