Cop Fired Over Eric Garner Death Wants Job Back

The police officer accused of putting Eric Garner in the chokehold that killed him is suing the NYPD to get his job back. Daniel Pantaleo had been on desk duty for the five years since the 2014 death before being fired on Aug. 19. NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill sided with a department judge who found Pantaleo's claim that he used an authorized seatbelt hold on Garner to be "self-serving" and "implausible," per NBC New York. Afterward, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said "justice was done." But that's not how Pantaleo's lawyer sees it.

"We are looking for him to get his job back," says Stuart London, arguing the decision to fire his client was "arbitrary and capricious." The Sergeants Benevolent Association agrees Pantaleo "never should of been fired." "He was scapegoated by a cowardice police commissioner," reads a Wednesday tweet from the union, per CBS News. On the other side of the fence is Rev. Al Sharpton, who fears Pantaleo will "pose a threat" to minorities if he's again allowed to patrol the streets of NYC. The ex-cop "has shown no contrition or acknowledgment of his violent actions" and his decision to appeal is "not only disrespectful to the Police Commissioner and NYPD, but also the Garner family," Sharpton says. (More Daniel Pantaleo stories.)