Officer fired for writing too many tickets

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PALM BEACH, Fla., June 7 (UPI) -- A lawyer for a Florida police officer fired for issuing too many traffic tickets said the officer will fight to be reinstated.

The Palm Beach director of public safety said in a Tuesday termination letter Officer William Eaton violated department rules, including conduct unbecoming and using his position to intimidate the citizenry, when he wrote 115 traffic tickets in a single month earlier this year, the Palm Beach Post reported Thursday.

Union leaders said two other officers are facing similar terminations.

Elizabeth Parker, Eaton's attorney, said her client will fight to be reinstated. She said he started writing more tickets to more effectively perform his duties when the town changed rules in January to give bonuses based on merit instead of longevity.

However, Public Safety Director Kirk Blouin said officials believe Eaton wrote the tickets as retaliation for contract changes and the city reducing police pension benefits.