Cop fired for lying appeals but gets fired again

A Denver police officer who was fired after she lied about time off for a wedding, was fired again after she appealed a second ruling that suspended her for 90 days. 

The Civil Service Commission says Officer Angela Simon asked for two days off in June 2014 to attend a wedding. She was given time off, but not two of the days she requested.

"He [Commander Lopez] made it clear that he expected her to report for duty June 1 and June 2," the Civil Service Commission wrote in its report. That was because her time off would put her sector below minimum staffing levels.

The Civil Service Commission said Simon "finagles her schedule so that records indicated that she had been granted all of her requested time off. She also went to Human Resources and requested leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act."

Officials said that application was "supported by material misrepresentations."

The Civil Service Commission said there was a meeting between Simon and her superiors who "made it crystal clear" she was not approved to take June 1 and June 2.

"Officer Simon made it equally clear that she did not care and that regardless, she would not be at work on June 1 and June 2," the Civil Service Commission said. Officials also said Simon was ordered to report for duty those days.

She did not, and Commander Lopez filed an internal complaint.

Officials said Simon was then fired for three rules violations -- misleading or inaccurate statements, commission of a deceptive act and conduct prejudicial.

The Civil Service Commission said the presumptive penalty for commission of a deceptive act was discharge.

Simon appealed.

A hearing officer reviewed the appeal, and sustained all of the rules violations. However, that hearing officer reduced the penalty to a 90-day suspension, officials said.

Simon appealed to the Civil Service Commission.

"Officer Simon claimed that her family came first – before the job, and, by extension, before her duties to serve the public and her fellow officers. She is entitled to make that choice, though that choice carries consequences," the Civil Service Commission wrote.

The commission reversed the 90-day suspension and re-imposed the penalty of discharge.

Simon can appeal to the Denver district court.