Highway Patrol to fight order to reinstate fired K-9 trooper

The state Highway Patrol decided Monday to appeal an order to reinstate a trooper fired for roughly treating his K-9 partner.

Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Bryan Beatty made the decision after consulting with the state Attorney General's Office. The appeal will go to state Superior Court.

On Friday, the State Personnel Commission said that Charles Jones should get back his job.

The commission found that the Highway Patrol did not have "just cause to dismiss for unacceptable personal conduct;" however, it did find "sufficient cause for discipline for unsatisfactory job performance," Beatty said.

Jones was fired in September 2007 after another trooper turned over two 15-second video clips of Jones suspending his dog, Ricoh, from a railing and kicking the dog repeatedly to force it to release a chew toy.