Edmonton city police have been ordered to reinstate an officer fired for urinating on another officer following a night of drinking.

Const. Rob Furlong, once a decorated Afghan war hero, was fired in April following a disciplinary hearing for conduct unbecoming an officer, a penalty police association president Sgt Tony Simioni said was too harsh.

"We felt pretty strongly that there was some things identified with Rob's condition and some medical background that contributed to this offence," he said. "While we agree that some punishment was in order, the fact that he was fired failed to take into effect a lot of disability issues that were in play."

The Law Enforcement Review board agreed, saying the incident amounted to horseplay that went "way too far" but didn't justify him being fired.

"It cannot be said that his behaviours ever posed a danger to the public," the decision said.

It also noted Furlong has "taken substantial steps to rehabilitate himself by entering an alcohol treatment facility at the earliest possible date."

Furlong, former sniper with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was lauded an international hero for making the longest-ever confirmed sniper kill in combat, at 2,430 metres in Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda in 2002 — a record since surpassed.^[

The Edmonton Police Service is appealing the decision, Simoni said.

Until then, Furlong remains suspended without pay.