IRAQ: Marine sergeant acquitted in Fallouja killings wants to rejoin Riverside police

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A former Marine sergeant acquitted by a civilian jury in August in the killing of four Iraqi prisoners in 2004 is trying to rejoin the Riverside Police Department.

Jose Luis Nazario was dismissed as a probationary officer when charges were levied by the U.S. attorney’s office. Now he has reapplied to the Riverside department and some others.

As a probationary employee, Nazario had no civil service protection.

His application has to start from the beginning, meaning he will compete with other applicants, said Riverside Police Chief Russ Leach. That process is currently in the background-check stage.

Nazario may or not have an advantage. Leach was 20 years in the Marine Reserves and has several former Marines in his department.

‘I have a soft spot for Marines,’ he said.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

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