Former police officer challenges firing following daughter's shooting death

MARYSVILLE, Wash. -- A police officer whose unattended 3-year-old son found a handgun and fatally shot the man's daughter challenged his termination from the Marysville Police Department recently, the Everett Herald reported.

Derek Carlile and the Marysville Police Officers Association -- a non-profit organization made up of police department members -- filed a joint grievance protesting his firing. The police department determined in May that Carlile's employment with the city should be terminated following the results of an internal investigation that found Carlile responsible for committing a negligent act, endangering others and not promoting a positive image as a police officer.

After the ruling Carlile was offered a position as a code enforcement officer but he declined, the Herald reported, saying he loved being a police officer and couldn't do anything else.

Carlile was initially charged with manslaughter after his daughter Jenna was shot dead by her 3-year-old brother after their father allegedly left a handgun unsecured in the family van in March 2012. However, criminal charges against Carlile were dropped following a mistrial of his case in November.

According to the Herald, an arbitration hearing is set in October to determine if Carlile could get his job back. Marysville City Administrator Gloria Hirashima told the Herald the city will stick by the arbitrator's decision.

"The arbitrator makes a ruling and we will abide by that ruling," she said.