Fired Piedmont police officer was only doing his job, his attorney said

The ticket was written for public urination, but was amended to contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Canadian County prosecutors declined to charge the mother.

A charge and conviction could have resulted in a fine of up to $2,500.

Leaman said Qualls acted on “probable cause,” when he witnessed others at the home taking the boy to a spot where the boy pulled his pants down. Qualls was trying to “enforce the law and keep the peace,” he said.

Qualls talked to his supervisor on duty before writing the ticket, Leaman said.

Leaman said he thinks his client was fired simply because of the embarrassment the city has experienced over widespread publicity about the incident.

“This (firing) is an overreaction to the ticket being written,” Leaman said.

He said Qualls is a member of an Oklahoma police pension program and is looking at his options to appeal the decision.

“Losing your job is never good, and it is certainly going to be a financial hardship for him,” Leaman said. “He is very disappointed.”