CHP Officer Fired
* Re “CHP Officer, Expecting Praise, Faces Dismissal,” Aug. 7:
CHP Officer Marco DeGennaro misses the point about why he is being fired from the CHP. He says of the tape he made of his part in the pursuit and arrest of a group of illegal immigrants, “The tape got me fired.” It looks more like DeGennaro’s lie got him fired.
DeGennaro behaved properly during the pursuit, doing a difficult job competently. The people of California and the CHP had a right to expect that from DeGennaro. DeGennaro lied to the FBI about whether he had recorded the pursuit. The people of California and the CHP had a right to expect that DeGennaro would never do that.
DeGennaro’s lie to the FBI was a knowing false statement to a federal agency, a violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1001. Committing an admitted federal felony seems like a reasonable ground for firing any law enforcement officer.
STEPHEN G. WOLFE
Los Angeles Caption: JIM MORIN, Miami
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