In this room where officers and lawyers share tables, former SAPD officer Humberto Zuniga is trying to get his job back after being fired for what police say were signs of intoxication during training in February of 2020.
Several officers testified about it today.
“Based on him telling me that he was drinking the night before, that he had bloodshot eyes, I could smell it, my partner could smell it, that he’s in violation of the rules and regs,” said SAPD Officer Michael Muniz.
Following the suspicions, Zuniga submitted to a breathalyzer test.
“The lady came to initiate the test, and she noted that he had a breath mint in his mouth,” said Muniz.
So he had to wait over 10 minutes before taking the test again.
“If you stop drinking while you’re at your house but at two or three in the afternoon, you’re still two and a half times over the legal limit,” said SAPD Sergeant Ryan Luza.
Zuniga’s lawyer questioned his ability to do his training drunk, while prosecutors brought up a cup Zuniga was messing with at a water fountain before being brought in for his breathalyzer test.
“If I understand your testimony correctly, he did something at a drinking fountain, like a water fountain, with his back to you before you could smell or look in that second cup,” said a prosecutor.
“He did,” said Muniz.
Officers who testified against Zuniga say it is possible he could have drunk during training.
It could take about two months before the arbitrator makes a decision on Zuniga’s case.
We’ll continue to follow this story.