Firing of Officer Over Misdemeanor Upheld

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has upheld the termination of a South Pasadena police officer fired for his involvement in a hit-and-run incident, city officials announced Monday.

In a ruling handed down Friday, the judge ruled that the city manager’s decision to terminate Officer Scott Ziegler was proper and he refused to grant a writ forcing the city to reinstate the former officer.

“If an officer has been proven to have lied, then that officer can no longer serve effectively,” Police Chief Michael Berkow said endorsing the ruling.

Ziegler, who pleaded no contest to the hit and run, was fired after The Times reported allegations that police officers covered up the September 1995 crash that occurred when he was off-duty.

His name was left off the police report and prosecutors were not told of his conduct until the story appeared in The Times. Ziegler was then charged and subsequently pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor hit and run. After the report came to light the police chief resigned.

Ziegler’s attorney did not return a telephone call seeking comment on the ruling.