EATONVILLE, Fla. _ One of the first police officers who responded to the Pulse nightclub shooting and now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder is being dismissed from Eatonville's police department.
The Town Council is expected to vote on a resolution Tuesday night that would pay Cpl. Omar Delgado about $1,200 before taxes in accrued sick time. The document also confirms his last day of employment is Dec. 31.
Delgado was lauded as a hero at Pulse for saving Angel Colon, who had been shot several times as gunfire erupted inside the nightclub on June 12, 2016.
He said he returned to the road for a few months after the massacre that left 49 slain but had to stop and still doesn't like going to restaurants and bars.
"Too many people," he said. "God forbid, something happens, I don't know if I'd be able to react."
So for the past eight months, Delgado has worked a desk job. He said a doctor found him unfit to return to full duty because of the PTSD and he suspects that was a factor in his dismissal.
"It's hurtful," Delgado said. "It's a small town. Everyone's family here, and I thought I was going to be treated like family. ... I didn't think I was going to be treated this way."
The police department wouldn't confirm the reason for Delgado being let go. Deputy Chief Joseph Jenkins would only say the department reached an agreement with the veteran officer to end his employment.
Delgado said he was examined by a doctor, who told him he was unfit to return to full duty after the attack.
If he's dismissed Dec. 31, Delgado would be six months shy of his 10-year anniversary at the department, which allows him to receive 64 percent of his salary with benefits for life. He makes $38,500 salary, town clerk Cathy Williams said.
As it stands now, he will only receive 42 percent of his salary starting when he's 55 years old. He's 45 now.
Delgado said he doesn't understand why he can't work another six months so he can become vested in the pension system.
