Officer at Center of Police Scandal Is Fired

A rookie police officer who was at the center of the “Fajitagate” scandal that led to indictments against the top brass of the San Francisco police has been released by the department.

Alex Fagan Jr., son of the department’s acting chief, was let go nine days ago “due to his inability to complete his probation” of 126 weeks, said police spokesman Dewayne Tully.

Fagan, 24, was hired Jan. 8, 2001, but had been on suspension since his Feb. 27 indictment by a criminal grand jury for his role in a late-night scuffle outside a restaurant. Nine other officers, including his father, Assistant Chief Alex Fagan Sr., and Police Chief Earl Sanders, were indicted on charges of conspiring to cover up the brawl, which reportedly began over a bag of steak fajitas. Charges against Fagan Sr. and Sanders, who has taken a medical leave, were later dropped.