An ex-Marine acquitted of Iraq war crimes is asking for his job back with the Riverside Police Department.
Jose Luis Nazario Jr. was still a probationary officer when he was fired from the police force after his arrest in August 2007. One year later, a civilian federal court jury acquitted the 29-year-old of charges that he killed or caused others to kill four unarmed detainees in Fallujah, Iraq.
After the not guilty verdicts, Nazario walked to the nearby police headquarters to ask for his job back. But his attorney Kevin McDermott says the "Riverside Police Department has not come through" for Nazario.
Police Chief Russ Leach said he couldn't comment on a personnel matter and department spokesman Steven Frasher would only say Nazario is not on the force.
Nazario's trial was believed to be the first in which a former U.S. serviceman was judged by a civilian jury for actions taken in combat, according to Kevin Barry McDermott, one of five attorneys representing Nazario pro bono.
The battle of Fallujah, which included house-to-house fighting, is considered one of the fiercest of the war.
