Ohio officer fired for speeding gets job back

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio police officer fired for off-duty speeding on his motorcycle at nearly 150 mph has gotten his job back.

Deputy Chief Kenneth Bell of the Gahanna department in suburban Columbus says officer Christopher Thomas was ordered back through binding arbitration.

Gahanna fired Thomas, who’s 33, in August. But an arbitrator told the department it lacked just cause.

Thomas was riding with off-duty state trooper Jason Highsmith in June when the two were pulled over on Interstate 70 near Buckeye Lake. Both pleaded guilty to speeding citations.

Bell says Thomas is again part of the force, but he remains on injury leave for a 2008 on-duty accident. Highsmith received a five-day suspension.