Remember the North Carolina state tooper fired last year for kicking his dog -- on video no less -- as part of the dog's alleged training?

He has gotten a new job as a patrol officer with the Apex, N.C. Police Department, the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Charlie Jones, a 14-year veteran and sergeant with the N.C. State Highway Patrol, was fired in September after he was captured on cell phone video kicking his dog, Ricoh, at least five times as the dog hung from a railing.

When it became public, there was a storm of protest from people like you and me and even N.C. Gov. Mike Easley, who wanted the veteran trooper fired. Eventually, he was.

Apex, a fast growing Raleigh suburb, hired Jones four months after he was fired. His starting salary is $39,083 a year, about two-thirds of his annual salary with the Highway Patrol.

There's still a chance Jones could get his state job back -- complete with back pay. A judge ruled last month that the trooper's actions were "within the scope of his training" and that he was fired under improper pressure from the governor's office.

While the judge recommended he be reinstated, the final decision will be made by the State Personnel Commission.