Ross Mirkarimi Reinstated As SF Sheriff After Lengthy Suspension Over Squabble With Wife

San Francisco, California – Ross Mirkarimi has been returned to his position as sheriff in San Francisco after a lengthy battle, one that kicked off during a New Year’s Eve dispute with wife Eliana Lopez during which he is said to have grabbed her arm and bruised it.

Ross Mirkarimi got his job back late last night after the Board of Supervisors in the city disagreed with Mayor Ed Lee that the allegations of domestic violence stemming from an argument with Lopez over whether she could travel back to her native Venezuela with their toddler son were sufficient to permanently ban Mikarimi from his job as sheriff.

The decision regarding the professional fate of Ross Mirkarimi was controversial from nearly all angles, as detractors complained of preferential treatment for a high-ranking cop and a poor example set on domestic violence while supporters of Mirkarimi argued that the case was a witch hunt and intrusion into what appeared to be a private family matter.

After the decision was handed down, Mirkarimi commented amidst a crowd of supporters, saying:

“Now is the time to move forward, and I look forward to displaying why people elected me as sheriff … We have work to do, and we both need to rise above the politics and get the job done.”

Lopez appeared relieved as well, remarking:

“This process has been so long and so stressful … It has been so painful for me and my son and my husband. To see the boys that I love being apart was really bad. But thanks for giving me the strength to keep fighting, to say this is wrong.”

Ross Mirkarimi indicated he planned to return to work Wednesday morning.