Michael Serges: Cop Twice Found Not Guilty of Rape Still Can't Get Job Back

• There were other police officers who were found innocent but they were allowed to remain peace officers (they were caucasian). Why?

• Thank God! About time someone made the right decisions.

• Good points Russell. 5 girls that changes things some. Damn the initial paucity of info. So is it about race or sex? In this case I think it is about sex.

• I wasn't on the jury and therefore I hate to second guess them, but at least five girls and seven counts against him I find very troubling. I usually find a fire when there's that much smoke. And I'd bet his superiors feel the same way as I do. He just got away with things that couldn't be proven.

• I second Bhoebe. The writer of the story said they did a cursory search. How many stories did he review. Was it 15, 50 or more? What is the certainty that 15 stories accurately depicts the situation? It is more anecdotal than informative on the part of the "reporter"? How many pertained to minorities, sex crimes and where bosses and subordinates are of different races? The reporter did a disservice here. The comments of the jury foreman, Gower Talley, makes me believe that the Serges is innocent. If the case was that insubstantial, the DA belongs in prison alongside former DA Niphong. In my opinion, Niphong belongs in prison. I believe that Sta Jolly, vice-president of the Coalition Of Police and Sheriffs, makes weak argument ("... Harris County, there are nine different law enforcement agencies with nine different policies and regulations, and it's not fair. We should all be hired and fired and punished the same."). For different size jurisdictions policies may legitimately be different. To me the small staff size argument holds up. That said Serges should be next in line one their is a new opening. I think Jolly's argument should be more along the line of a "best practices" argument. Patrick Judge, executive director of the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training made a good point. So I hate the race card being played. How do you separate charges of sex crimes form race, when both occur together? Whole websites cater to reporting sex crimes. The Constable is really delinquent for not enumerating the causes for when not to rehire. Are the so difficult so as to defy being written in English or any other language? If it for the reason that Judge gives, the fine state that. that is a valid reason. The if it is an elected position the constable can face the voters. But if that is the reason he must be consistent in applying it.

• also- he keeps pressing the 'it's because I am black issue" You cannot compare a crime sexual in nature to some White officer running an off-duty Non-licenced security Co. complaining it's not "fair" and they should be" hired and fired and punished the same". People are going to be far more wary of a possible sex crime as opposed to possible evidence tampering or an unlicensed security run by some clown. Serges wants to believe it's because he's black and nobody is going to be able to get him to understand otherwise. Maybe there ARE issues of his integrity despite his claims of no blemishes. ...But it was my dream a a little boy *boohoohoo-hoo* My dreams were crushed too- I'd spent my entire HS career preparing for my dream career and a round of college I WORKED MY SELF RAGGED- guess what? My dreams were crushed despite all my work and it was also financially devastating to me. Know what? I sold my house and went back to school instead of whining about it

• I agree if he's actually innocent- then it's really too bad for him. But if he's NOT Innocent and continued this behavior then there's issues with: is his [employer] maybe liable knowing there's a chance? Along with Social obligation his Texas Precinct has the responsibility to protect the citizens even if an innocent man is now jobless , it is better than him being innocent behind bars.

• Found not guilty, even twice, is not the same as actually being innocent. There just wasn't enough evidence to prove guilt, and his story and lawyer was [apparently] more believable then the girls'. He wasn't proven innocent, either; he just wasn't proven guilty. He still could have done it, or he really could be innocent, but nobody will ever know for sure because there's no <i>proof</i> either way. There will always be that hint, or suspicion, of wrongdoing, no matter what, so most will never fully trust him again, no matter what. So, no, he does not deserve to get his job back. Right or wrong, those accusations are always going to be there, and he's never fully trustworthy again because of it.

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