Embattled San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi Reinstated

San Francisco Sherriff Ross Mirkarimi may still have a job, but the talk surrounding the sherriff over a domestic violence case hasn't died down yet.

The San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 Tuesday to allow Mirkarimi to return to work after being suspended by Mayor Ed Lee in March for a domestic violence involving Mirkarimi's wife, Venezuelan soap star Eliana Lopez, that took place in front of their young son, Theo.

Afterwards, the sheriff faced tough criticism from Lee and others who were skeptical of Mirkarimi's ability to effectively lead his department.

"The facts clearly demonstrate that Ross Mirkarimi's actions and his domestic violence-related conviction falls below the ethical conduct we expect of our elected sheriff and constitutes official misconduct," Lee said in a statement on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters.

Lee also blasted the board's reinstatement of the sheriff as a decision that "returns a convicted domestic batterer to lead the sheriff's office, and I am concerned about our city's nationally recognized domestic-violence programs."

The incident revolves around a Dec. 31 argument last year Mirkarimi had with Lopez around her plans to take their son to Venezuela.

According to the San Jose Mercury, who spoke with Lopez, the actress missed her family and wanted to return with Theo for a visit. But with the couple already on tense terms, Mirkarimi was afraid that she would not come back.

The couple began fighting in their red minivan while the child cried in his car seat, and when Lopez got out of the car to unbuckle Theo, Mirkarimi grabbed her by the arm.

In a 55-second cell phone video shot by a neighbor the next day, Lopez tearfully claimed her husband had grabbed her arm so hard that he left bruising. The actress said it was the second time he had bruised her.

The New York Times reports that while the mayor needed at least a 9-2 to remove Mirkarimi from his post-which he expected would happen Tuesday-those four who voted to reinstate the sheriff condemned the violence but argued that the evidence was lacking in order for them to find official misconduct.

After the vote, Mirikami said he looked forward to going back to work immediately, the Times wrote.

In video footage posted Wednesday by NBC's Bay Area affiliate, Mirkarimi said that he had accepted responsibility for his actions and had done much soul-searching.

"I can only be a better person for this," he said.

He added that the last few months had left him "anxious, eager and gratified" as he looked forward to returning to his job.

"It would really be nice if we all rise above this experience which I think has been agonizing for all San Francisco," said Mirkarimi.

However, not all in the Golden City feel as enthusiastic as the sheriff did.

"I have grave concerns about Ross Mirkarimi's ability to manage the Sheriff's Department," District Attorney George Gascon told the Associated Press Wednesday. "What I will not accept is any compromise of public safety as a result of his reinstatement. ... I am calling upon Ross to recuse himself from the duties in his office that relate to the custody, supervision, safety and rehabilitation of domestic violence offenders."