
La Sanbe noted the return of Abraham "El Protector" Diaz back to his old job after an arbitrator ruled that the 19-year veteran of the Laredo Police Department had merely shown bad judgment in being out late at night to help a "friend."
In addition, being found asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle at a gas station that fateful morning was not that bad, supporters of Diaz argued. Cops do it all the time, apparently.
According to news reports, just because "El Protector" was hanging out at 5:00 a.m. with a "friend" who insisted on giving Diaz a beer (Diaz was noble, asking for a non-alcoholic one), there was not enough evidence to support the harsh punishment "El Protector" received when he was suspended and stripped of that annoying title as the "Guardian."
Besides, it was the fault of the medicine he was taking, according to Diaz's lawyer, George Altgelt. Yeah, that's the ticket. It was the medicine!
Well, in
today's El Manana, Diaz had his say, in Spanish.
According to the report, Diaz is happy that his honor has been restored. (Really? You tried to enter the wrestling ring with Mexican wrestlers last year.) In addition, he offers a critical theory as to why he fell into disrepute: his colleagues were jealous! Yeah, that's it. Everyone wanted to be "El Protector."
The real clincher is the concluding sentence of the story which points out that Diaz will relish in his triumph, while considering if he will pursue further legal action against the Laredo Police Department for sullying his name.
It is obvious the guy thinks very highly of himself. And while frivolous lawsuits are always possible, I doubt many people buy into his story that he left his home in the middle of the night (morning?) to help a friend. A friend who insisted on having a drink with him during his moral crisis. (For the record I stopped using the "friend" defense when I was a teenager. --ed.)
So arbitrators from Fort Worth might buy your story, but not the folks in the hood. Sorry brother.
My favorite readers' comments from El Manana reads:
All right Abraham, let's go out drinking! You drive!See what I mean?