Commission Upholds Officer’s Firing for Alleged Child Abuse

The San Diego City Civil Service Commission announced Monday that it has upheld the dismissal of a San Diego police officer for alleged sexual child abuse, although the officer was never charged or prosecuted in the case.

John Alger, a five-year police veteran, was fired in February, 1988, when a relative of two preschool girls notified authorities that the children allegedly had been sexually molested by the officer.

The commission found that Alger’s conduct was “immoral and demonstrated a serious lack of judgment.”

“Due to their considerable degree of power and authority,” the commission said, “police officers must maintain and be held accountable for the highest degree of judgment, integrity and moral conduct.”

Denied Molestations

Alger, however, has denied that he sexually molested the 4- and 5-year-old girls. He appealed his firing and, in a November commission hearing, declared that “I’m a cop. I don’t do things like that.”

The case was also presented by police to the county district attorney’s office, without any recommendation on whether criminal charges should be filed.

The district attorney’s child-abuse unit eventually decided against prosecuting Alger, noting that there was contradictory medical evidence about the alleged molestations. The child-abuse investigators did find evidence that there was “improper touching” in the case, but there were also doubts about whether the activity was sexually motivated by Alger.

Ruling Issued

The commission, in its ruling dated Friday and released Monday, said the termination “was fully justified and warranted.”

“The appellant’s conduct critically damaged his suitability and acceptability as a police officer,” the commission concluded.

“Such behavior demonstrated a serious lack of judgment and unbecoming conduct, not only for an adult responsible for the protection of young children, but more gravely for that of a police officer whose inherent responsibilities include the prevention of and prosecution for such conduct.”