BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Cariol Horne, who was fired from the Buffalo Police Department in 2008 after stopping a fellow officer from abusing a handcuffed suspect, was on Tuesday at City Hal, surrounded by supporters calling on the city to honor the former officer's pension.
Horne says she's still seeking justice.
"It didn't just affect me," Horne said. "I have three sons that I have to worry about now. The message that they sent was clear: even as a police officer, you don't stand up against the police brutality."
The city ruled that Horne's physical actions towards Officer Greg Kwiatkowski warranted her dismissal from the force.
Neal Mack, the suspect involved in the incident, credits Horne with saving his life that day and says her story shouldn't be forgotten.
"Well we want everyone to know what happened. She did the right thing and she got punished," Neal Mack said. "Gregory Kwiatkowski did the wrong thing and he got rewarded. So something's wrong there."
Horne was just one year shy of receiving her pension when she was let go. Since then, she's moved out of the Buffalo area and has taken on several different jobs to provide for her family.
Horne says whether her pension is returned or not, she'll continue to speak out about police corruption. She wants to create "Cariol's Law," which would protect police officers who decide to speak up when a fellow officer breaks the law.
"Every officer is looked at as being a bad officer because they say 'Where are the good officers? If there are good officers, why don't they stand up?' They don't stand up because of me. They don't want to end up in the same situation," Horne said.
Kwiatkowski is now retired but will head to federal court Dec. 6 for a 2009 case in which four teens claim he used excessive force.
Horne, for her part, also wants to establish a fund for police officers who may need financial support after speaking out about police corruption.