Fired Boston Officer Given Job Back

A Boston police officer fired after he was accused of using excessive force on a man during an investigation into a car crash has been handed his job back by an arbitrator.

The arbitrator's ruling released Thursday said the man who claimed he was slammed to the ground and choked by Officer David Williams was "not truthful" because he had been drinking and had reason to lie to save his job.

The city last year agreed to pay $1.4 million to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by a Michael O'Brien of Methuen, a Middlesex sheriff's deputy. O'Brien claimed he suffered long term injuries as a result of the March 2009 incident and cannot work.

A lawyer for Williams says his client is looking forward to getting back to work.