TAMPA, Fla. — A Black Tampa police officer who was fired for using a racial slur in two separate situations has been reinstated.
According to Bay News 9’s partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa’s Civil Service Board voted Monday to reinstate Officer Delvin White
White was fired in March.
What You Need To Know
- Officer Delvin White fired in March after caught using N-word on camera
- He was reinstated on Monday
- PREVIOUS STORY: Black Tampa police officer fired after using racial slur
"I'm really happy to be reinstated; I start work on Monday," Officer White told Spectrum Bay News 9.
The board voted that while Chief Brian Dugan had cause to fire White, the punishment was too severe. The board argued it was unfair to lose a good employee who cared about his job.
"After 175 days of being without work and unsure what his future looked like, we were extremely pleased with the board's findings and Delvin's immediate reinstatement," White's attorney, Danny Alvarez, said. "He can now get back to helping the community he loves and the one that supported him throughout this entire difficult time."
White was a popular school resource officer at Middleton High School.
Dugan argued White clearly violated a policy that forbids racial slurs, and said it was concerning he used a racial slur while arresting a student.
White was immediately reinstated with no back pay.
It's unclear if he will return to Middleton.