Fired St. Pete Police Officer Returns to Work

Traveling at 20 mph over the speed limit in his police car, officer Mehmedin Karic did not see Harold Fleming crossing 38th Avenue North near the intersection of 64th Street in his wheel chair in February 2012 when he crashed into Fleming.

According to St. Petersburg Police, Fleming died from injuries he sustained in the crash. 

In August 2012 Police Chief Chuck Harmon and The Chain of Command Board fired Karic because, "Officer Karic had no legal justification for speeding and was involved in a crash that resulted in a death," the report said. 

Monday, Karic was back to work as a St. Petersburg Police officer after an arbitrator ruled he should get his job back and receive $35,000 in back pay, according to a report by the Tampa Bay Times. 

"I think the arbitrator made the right choice," said Karic's attorney, Joseph Ciarciaglino. "I've been representing the police union for 30 years and ... I just cant remember one of these ever before."

Arbitrator Mark Scarr agreed with the union's argument that Karic was fired without cause and that the punishment was "disparate, excessive and not progressive." Karic was formally re-instated April 23.

The police report said Karic's vehicle locator data showed that 20 minutes prior to the crash, he was traveling at speeds of 80-90 mph along 38th Avenue North and 66th Street while enroute to a call for officer.

Sign up for the St. Pete Patch email newsletter to get our top headlines delivered straight to your inbox so you won't miss a thing!