Troubled ex-OPD officer has law enforcement certification revoked

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 was there when a former Orlando police officer opened up about his troubled past before he learned he'll never be an officer again in the state of Florida.

Over the past two years, WFTV has reported on Danny Sidders' arrests for domestic violence and evidence tampering.

A little over a year ago, Sidders was fired from his job at the Orlando Police Department, and on Thursday, he went before a state commission to request that his law enforcement certification not be revoked.

Sidders stepped up to the microphone and admitted to years of substance abuse that culminated with his termination from the force.

"It wasn't that I needed it, I had to have it. I became an alcoholic," Sidders told the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commission.

Sidders said his series of problems began when he was forced to shoot and kill his K-9 when the dog was injured during a chase in 2009.

"I was drinking more and more every day," he said.

Sidders has been accused of domestic violence by two ex-wives and last year, he was also charged for trying to hide a gun he wasn't supposed to have, but prosecutors decided not to file charges.

Sidders told the commission he recently spent six months in rehab and wants to be a cop again.

Instead, the commission went forward with revoking his certification.

Sidders walked out without saying a single word to Channel 9.

There were 19 people on the commission, but not one voted to allow Sidders to keep his certification.

WFTV