Narcotics Officer Fired Over Role in Drug Case

A veteran narcotics officer has been fired for alleged misconduct stemming from a 2001 case involving several hundred dollars worth of cocaine.

The Police Department dismissed John Gutierrez on Friday after a probe concluded he falsified a report about finding cocaine during a search and was untruthful about the matter in court testimony.

Gutierrez’s attorney said he plans to appeal the dismissal, calling it “an excessive and unsupportable overreaction.”

While Gutierrez has been on administrative leave, the department has dismissed several cases he investigated. Last October, just before his troubles began, the department had named Gutierrez officer of the year.

Police officials also have transferred four other officers in an attempt to reform the narcotics unit.