CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The city of St. Albans has hired a former Charleston police officer who was involved in a 2005 Kanawha City wreck that injured him and left a Charlton Heights woman dead.

Brandon Tagayun, 27, was sworn in as a patrolman in the St. Albans Police Department on Tuesday afternoon, Chief Joe Crawford said Wednesday.

Crawford said he and St. Albans Mayor St. Albans Mayor Dick Callaway did an extensive background check, considering Tagayun's experience as well as the incident that killed Patsy Sizemore, 69.

"He brought a lot of experience to the table from when he was in Charleston," Crawford said. "[With] all the information we had, we felt that he was a good viable candidate."

Callaway said Tagayun did exceptionally well on the city's tests to hire police officers, and was the top candidate for the job.

"I knew he had baggage," the mayor said. "I knew there was going to be controversy. But for me to make a choice other than picking the best candidate would be a flaw on my part."

On Oct. 14, 2005, Tagayun was responding as backup to a domestic dispute call at the Kanawha Mall on MacCorkle Avenue without his emergency lights and sirens. State Police investigators concluded he was driving between 60 and 80 mph in a 40-mph zone.

In March 2007, Tagayun pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors - speeding and failure to use his cruiser's emergency lights. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a negligent-homicide charge against the former officer.

Tagayun received one year's probation and was fined $100 for each charge. He has been living with his family in his home state of California since he resigned from the Charleston Police Department in April 2006. Callaway said he returned recently to West Virginia to help his wife, a state native, take care of an ailing relative.

In July 2006, the city of Charleston settled for $1.8 million a civil lawsuit filed by Sizemore's husband, Gary, who survived the crash.

Gary Sizemore could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The city of St. Albans has hired a former Charleston police officer who was involved in a 2005 Kanawha City wreck that injured him and left a Charlton Heights woman dead.

Brandon Tagayun, 27, was sworn in as a patrolman in the St. Albans Police Department on Tuesday afternoon, Chief Joe Crawford said Wednesday.

Crawford said he and St. Albans Mayor St. Albans Mayor Dick Callaway did an extensive background check, considering Tagayun's experience as well as the incident that killed Patsy Sizemore, 69.

"He brought a lot of experience to the table from when he was in Charleston," Crawford said. "[With] all the information we had, we felt that he was a good viable candidate."

Callaway said Tagayun did exceptionally well on the city's tests to hire police officers, and was the top candidate for the job.

"I knew he had baggage," the mayor said. "I knew there was going to be controversy. But for me to make a choice other than picking the best candidate would be a flaw on my part."

On Oct. 14, 2005, Tagayun was responding as backup to a domestic dispute call at the Kanawha Mall on MacCorkle Avenue without his emergency lights and sirens. State Police investigators concluded he was driving between 60 and 80 mph in a 40-mph zone.

In March 2007, Tagayun pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors - speeding and failure to use his cruiser's emergency lights. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a negligent-homicide charge against the former officer.

Tagayun received one year's probation and was fined $100 for each charge. He has been living with his family in his home state of California since he resigned from the Charleston Police Department in April 2006. Callaway said he returned recently to West Virginia to help his wife, a state native, take care of an ailing relative.

In July 2006, the city of Charleston settled for $1.8 million a civil lawsuit filed by Sizemore's husband, Gary, who survived the crash.

Gary Sizemore could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Crawford said he is sympathetic to the Sizemore family's loss.

But he also said Tagayun is ready to return to police work.

"He's very professional and I think he's matured a lot and I think all that will show as he deals with the citizens and the public," Crawford said.

Callaway agreed, saying it was Tagayun's lifelong ambition to be a police officer.

The mayor said Tagayun regrets the accident, but shouldn't be denied a job as a policeman because of it.

"It's not an easy thing for him, either," Callaway said. "But accidents happen, and I'm sure people can relate to that.

"I think it goes back to almost a Biblical principle," he said. "Jesus said the first who has no sin, you can cast the first stone."

Tagayun's first day on the job was Wednesday. Callaway said he will be paired with another officer until he becomes familiar with the town of 11,000.

Tagayun's hiring brings the St. Albans police force to 22 officers, Callaway said.

Reach James I. Davison at jdavi...@wvgazette.com">jdavi...@wvgazette.com or 348-5119.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com">rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.