OXNARD : Former Policeman Appeals Dismissal
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A former Oxnard police officer convicted of assault with a deadly weapon is appealing his subsequent dismissal from the department, contending that he was fired because he is Latino, his attorney said.
Opening statements in Ray Centeno Jr.’s appeal to the Oxnard Board of Review took place Thursday.
Centeno, an officer for 10 years, was fired by the Police Department immediately after he was convicted of misdemeanor assault against his brother-in-law, David Castanon, in 1989, said Centeno’s attorney, James Farley.
Centeno hit Castanon after Castanon beat Centeno’s sister, Farley said. Centeno subsequently served 30 days in the Ventura County Jail and is still on probation, Farley said.
However, Farley said Centeno’s dismissal was harsher treatment than other officers in the department, who were not Latino, have received for the same or similar offenses.
In addition, Farley said, the punishment was too severe given Centeno’s work record.
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