Fullerton’s chief of police said he would fight an appeal from one of the officers acquitted in the death of Kelly Thomas to get his job back.

Jay Cicinelli was fired after being charged by Orange County prosecutors with involuntary manslaughter and excessive force in the 2011 death of the mentally ill homeless man....

Hughes said he would fight Cicinelli’s attempt to work for the Fullerton Police Department through the administrative process.

“Although a terminated employee has the opportunity to appeal his or her termination through an administrative appeal process,” Hughes said, “I intend to vigorously defend my decisions.”