Police Officer Looking For Reinstatement After He Said He Was Wrongfully Suspended

ABILENE, TX -- An Abilene Police officer is looking to be reinstated after being suspended without pay since February.

Patrick Sumrall, an Abilene Police Officer, was suspended in early 2017 for excessive use of force. Sumrall was wearing a body cam on the day of the violation, and the video depicts Sumrall taking a man with mental health issues into custody using a the carotid artery technique, which his superiors said was an unnecessary procedure. Sumrall also had no legal authority to take the man into custody.

Sumrall is an eight-year veteran on the force, but has been suspended on three separate occasions. Once in 2016 for lack of proactivity, in 2017 for use of force and again in 2017 for lack of proactivity.

Sumrall says he was unfairly suspended and looks to be put back at his original spot. The arbitration hearing was held Tuesday at Abilene City Hall, and will continue through at least Wednesday, according to the arbitrator, E. Dwayne Hicks.

Hicks says he will have his decision in the next 30 to 60 days.

This information was published by KTXS.