DALLAS POLICE FIRE 2 ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT

Dallas Police Chief Terrell Bolton on Friday fired an eight-year
officer who was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and drug
possession and an officer in the communications division who was
accused of not paying attention and using racial and profane language.

Both officers were fired for violating the department's code of
conduct, police officials said. The officers had been reprimanded in
the past for other violations, said Lt. Ron Waldrop, a police
spokesman. Neither officer could be reached for comment Friday.

Officer Raymond Rodriguez, 42, was stopped for driving erratically
about 1:30 a.m. April 1 in the 2400 block of south State Highway 360
in Arlington while off duty. He identified himself as a police officer
and told arresting officers that cocaine found in his wallet was from
a drug buy he had made earlier in the day. But none of the officer's
co-workers in the street crimes squad could confirm he made such a
buy.

Police officials say Mr. Rodriguez was supposed to place the 0.7 grams
of cocaine in the department's property room or at Lew Sterrett
Justice Center.

Mr. Rodriguez was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and drug
possession. He posted a $2,000 bond and was placed on paid
administrative leave after the arrest. Criminal charges are pending.

Officer Fernando Perez, 33, spent nine years with the department and
had been terminated in 1998 for improperly releasing a prisoner,
physical abuse and using profane language. Officer Perez appealed the
1998 discharge and was rehired after a 20-day suspension to work in
dispatch, Lt. Waldrop said.

Officer Perez was recently accused of using city equipment for
personal matters, not paying attention to his job and using racial and
profane language, police officials said. Further details were not available.

Both officers have five days to appeal the termination to the city
manager. Depending on the outcome, they can make a second appeal.