Controversial Policeman Reinstated with Back Pay

Oakland, California must be one of the worst places in the country to be a criminal and one of the best to be a policeman.

The police department will have to rehire Officer Hector Jimenez, who was fired after a 2008 shooting in which he killed an unarmed man who was running away from him at the time, an attorney said Sunday.

Jimenez shot Mack "Jody" Woodfox, 27, in July 2008 after Woodfox led officers on a short vehicle chase in the Fruitvale neighborhood. When Woodfox pulled over, a witness said, he got out of the car with his hands up, but ran when officers "started shouting."

Jimenez was among the officers at the scene and said he fired at Woodfox -- hitting him three times in the back -- when he saw Woodfox reaching for his waistband as he ran in the direction of a second police officer.

Jimenez said he thought the other officer was in danger and that he fired to protect him.

The dead guy was always "reaching" or "lunging" or something. And too often the offending cops are given special treatment.

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