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BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH CLINTON, ILLINOIS A Clinton police officer fired for viewing more than 27 hours of hard-core pornography on his squad car computer has asked a judge to reverse his dismissal. Billy Hurst was accused Jan. 30 of violating police department rules by accessing several adult pornographic Web sites during a five-week period in December and January. On Oct. 13, the Clinton Police and Fire Commission issued its ruling that terminated the patrol officer's employment. In his appeal to the circuit court, Hurst argues he was not alone in viewing pornography. "Pornography and Internet pornography was not outlawed at the Clinton Police Department as pornographic magazines were kept inside the department for years, including November 2008 through January 2009, and Chief Michael Reidy viewed and shared Internet pornography while on duty on his city-owned computer inside of the police department," Hurst said in his petition. Reidy said Monday a distinction exists between the material on Hurst's squad car computer and the magazines kept in a restroom at the department. "What he was viewing was hard-core, obscene pornography. We're not talking about Playboy magazines in a restroom on break time," said Reidy. The issues involved in Hurst's firing centered on the nature of the material and the length of time the officer accessed the Web sites, said Reidy. Hurst also argues that the city violated state eavesdropping laws by placing a monitoring device on the computer without his consent. A computer consultant placed monitors on a desktop and laptop computer after viruses were detected. The viruses and pornographic sites were traced to Hurst, said charges. Hurst's 15-year record with the department includes a 2003 suspension for exposing himself to customers at a Clinton bar. Criminal charges were not filed in that matter or the recent case and Hurst remained on duty during the 10 months the computer-related case was pending.
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