ORLANDO, Fla. — Two Orlando police officers fired in 2016 after an unreported pursuit and alleged cover-up were working to get their jobs back Thursday.
Former officers Frederick Rolle and Michael Favorite were chasing after a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee in December 2015, but did not report their actions to dispatch, according to officials.
When they caught up to the vehicle, armed individuals ran from the scene, officials said.
Rolle and Favorite did not report the armed individuals being at large and drove the stolen SUV back into the Orlando city limits, officials said.
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The violations were serious enough to cause the men to be fired, something that Orlando police Chief John Mina still argues more than a year after they were terminated.
“This was an intentional and deliberate violation of policy, and I think everyone can agree and (the officers) know that,” Mina said.
The officers, though, argue that other OPD employees had committed worse violations and had not been fired.
The officers and OPD started the arbitration process Thursday, which is expected to last several days.
Rolle and Favorite are expected to give their version of events concerning the chase when they go in front of the arbitrators.