CANTON: A Canton police officer has been fired for verbally abusing a citizen who he said did not promptly announce he had a firearm in his possession.Patrolman Daniel Harless can appeal Safety Director Thomas Ream’s decision, which was written in a letter dated Tuesday.In a police “dashcam” video that the group Ohioans for Concealed Carry widely publicized, Harless was heard berating a motorist during a June 8 traffic stop while the driver apparently was trying to volunteer information about his gun permit.After the video went viral on the Internet, the city administration investigated two other incidents involving Harless.“Drawing from my own background in law enforcement,” wrote Ream, a former police officer, “I find that Ptl. Harless’ actions were not a one-time breakdown of professionalism and training standards.“It is quite clear that his actions represented a pattern of behavior where inappropriate verbal abuse and threats of death or great bodily harm of the various complainants occurred.“This escalating pattern of potentially dangerous behavior cannot be justified or excused and clearly illustrates the seriousness of the departmental infractions.” In the June 8 traffic stop, Harless was recorded telling the citizen he should have “executed you ’cuz you’re stupid.” Had he done so, Harless said, he would have slept well that night.Ream’s decision noted Harless had applied for disability retirement because of post-traumatic stress disorder. But a diagnosis was not sought until after the incidents occurred and only after the city administration ordered an exam in response to those incidents, Ream wrote.Harless’ advocate from the Canton Police Patrolmen’s Association acknowledged the officer had violated departmental rules but attributed them to PTSD, according to the decision.An Ohioans for Concealed Carry coordinator called Harless’ dismissal “a good thing.”“He had a track record of these inappropriate traffic stops,” said Doug Deeken of Doylestown. “He didn’t need to be the officer you have pull you over. We’re glad that he’s gone.”Deeken said the case illustrates the need for a revision of the state law that requires the motorist to inform a police officer about having a firearm. He called the provision “a legal trap” not used in most other states.He said police should rely on their training — and assume motorists are armed — when making traffic stops.“It shouldn’t be our job to remind the officer of what he should have learned at the academy,” Deeken said.A call to the police union for comment was not returned Wednesday.