The Associated Press
Wednesday, December 5, 2007; 11:43 PM

CASSELBERRY, Fla. -- A police officer has been fired for suing a family after she slipped and fell in their home while trying to rescue a 1-year-old boy who nearly drowned, authorities said.

Police Chief John Pavlis fired Sgt. Andrea Eichhorn on Tuesday, saying the lawsuit brought public ridicule to the department and damaged its reputation. Eichhorn, a 12-year veteran, can appeal.

She dropped her negligence lawsuit in October. It claimed there was water on the floor at Joey Cosmillo's home on Jan. 9 when police arrived to try to resuscitate the boy, who had fallen into the family's swimming pool. Eichhorn claimed she broke her knee and missed two months of work after she slid on the wet floor.

The boy suffered brain damage and can no longer walk, talk or swallow. He lives in a nursing home and eats and breathes through tubes.

Eichhorn's personnel file includes numerous commendations. She has worked as a hostage negotiator and prostitution decoy, and even wrestled razors away from a suicidal person.