NC Highway Patrol challenges trooper decision

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Highway Patrol is challenging an order that it rehire a trooper accused of mistreating his K-9 partner.

WRAL-TV reported that patrol leaders will be in a Wake County courtroom Wednesday to argue they shouldn’t have to rehire Charles Jones, who was fired in September 2007.

A year later, the State Personnel Commission ordered the patrol to reinstate Jones, saying it found sufficient cause for discipline but not dismissal.

Jones was fired after another trooper turned over video clips of Jones suspending his dog, Ricoh, from a railing and kicking the dog repeatedly to force it to release a chew toy.

When he testified in April 2008, Jones said he trained the dog the way the Highway Patrol taught him. Ricoh has retired.

Information from: WRAL-TV

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