By Laurel J. Sweet and Natalie Sherman
The Boston Herald
BOSTON — Exonerated of federal fraud charges, ex-firefighter Albert Arroyo is due to appear before an arbitrator in five months for a hearing that could lay the groundwork for his return to the Boston Fire Department, over adamant opposition from City Hall.
‘At this point, the city is going to go to the ends of the earth to fight this. They will be in the public spotlight,’ predicted Hub labor and employment lawyer Ellen Messing, who is not involved in the case. Monday, city officials were stunned by a jury verdict acquitting the bodybuilder of fraud over his disability application
Arroyo, 49, of Roslindale, claims to suffer from an 11-year-old line-of-duty back injury that makes even desk work too painful to perform. The city rejected his 2008 application for a disability pension, in which he claimed an injury from falling down firehouse stairs. Boston Firefighters Local 718 requested the January arbitration hearing on his behalf for wrongful termination. Union officials could not be reached for comment.
Dot Joyce, spokeswoman for Mayor Thomas M. Menino, said yesterday Arroyo’s firing in 2008 was justified because he defied an order to return to work after video surfaced of him competing in a muscleman competition. A jury of seven women and five men ages 19 to 57 acquitted Arroyo Monday of trying to defraud the city of a tax-free, $65,000-per-year accidental disability retirement.
Arroyo did not respond yesterday to requests for comment at his home in Roslindale.
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