City attorney appeals decision to send speeding drunk Denver cop

City attorney appeals decision to send speeding drunk Denver cop back to work

Denver's City Attorney has asked the Civil Service Commission to block a hearing panel's order to reinstate a cop fired for driving 88 miles over the speed limit to allow time appeal the decision.

"In the absence of a stay, the department will be forced to assign Officer (Derrick) Saunders civilian duties while paying him at the rate of a police officer, which would be unfair to the other sworn members of the Department and to the citizens of Denver," City Attorney Doug Friednash said in an email.

The city also filed a notice of appeal with the commission. The hearing panel was wrong to conclude that the police rules don't permit the termination of an officer for driving 143 mph in a 55 mph speed zone, Friednash said.

Saunders, a traffic cop who worked photo radar duty, visited a bar in June 2010 before driving to Gun Club Road to see how fast the car could go.

Saunders smelled of alcohol and admitted drinking earlier that night. His blood-alcohol level was tested at 0.089 percent — over the 0.08 percent legal limit for driving under the influence.

Saunders pleaded guilty to impaired and reckless driving.