Despite acquittal, officer has no job

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says he stands by the firing of a city police officer acquitted of assaulting a former girlfriend and does not want to see him back in uniform.

Forty-three-year-old Eugene Hlavac Jr. was acquitted Tuesday of an assault charge and said he would seek his job back. The 18-year veteran was fired after the December case under the city’s “zero-tolerance” domestic violence policy.

The mayor said Wednesday he would oppose any effort to reinstate Hlavac, noting that the city’s burden of proof in arbitration is lower than the standard in criminal court.

Prosecutors alleged that Hlavac was angry with the woman for not picking up their son on time. He contended that he was only defending himself, and a witness testified that the woman had been the aggressor.

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