City of Tonawanda fires police officer found guilty of misconduct

[Ragin]

City of Tonawanda fires police officer after he's found guilty of misconduct

By MARK CIEMCIOCH
Northtowns Correspondent
5/26/2006

A City of Tonawanda police officer was fired this week by Police Chief Cindy Young after he was found guilty of 17 misconduct charges in the department.

Officer Brian MacDonald, a five-year veteran, was terminated Tuesday, a day after a decision in a lengthy hearing process found the officer violated regulations during several incidents last year.

Donald Witkowski, the mayor's administrative assistant, announced the decision Wednesday. Witkowski spoke on behalf of the city and police department about the charges that date back to last summer. "It's taken this long to get the hearing officer's decision," Witkowski said.

The first charge against MacDonald occurred July 28, when Witkowski said he attended a Buffalo Bisons game with a convicted felon - with whom he has a personal relationship - without notifying his superior officer. MacDonald stated that he was working the felon for drug information.

MacDonald also responded to the home of an off-duty police officer on Aug. 8. Although officials are vague about the nature of the call because of privacy issues, MacDonald did not secure the officer's firearm, as stated in the policy manual, nor did he tell any of his superiors about the incident. No other charges were filed against the other officer after the incident, according to Witkowski.

A week later on Aug. 14, MacDonald attempted to patronize a prostitute while he was off duty, officials said. When asked about these incidents by Young in August, and later his captains in September, MacDonald allegedly gave false information.

The department suspended MacDonald without pay in late September for his various misconduct charges. A hearing officer, former North Tonawanda Police Chief Carl Stiles, was appointed in October, but MacDonald and his lawyer delayed the start of the hearings.

Normally, an officer can be suspended for only 30 days without pay, but Witkowski said MacDonald's delays extended his suspension until January of this year. "We were pushing to have this hearing done as quickly as possible, but because the delays were caused by him, we put him back on unpaid suspension," Witkowski said. "Once the hearing happened, he went back on the payroll."

The hearings were held in January and early February. The final briefs and transcripts were not filed until April. Stiles delivered his decision to Young on Monday.


http://buffalonews.com/editorial/20060526/1027484.asp

[Effigy]

City of Tonawanda fires police officer after he's found guilty of misconduct

By MARK CIEMCIOCH
Northtowns Correspondent
5/26/2006


MacDonald also responded to the home of an off-duty police officer on Aug. 8. Although officials are vague about the nature of the call because of privacy issues, MacDonald did not secure the officer's firearm, as stated in the policy manual, nor did he tell any of his superiors about the incident. No other charges were filed against the other officer after the incident, according to Witkowski.

A week later on Aug. 14, MacDonald attempted to patronize a prostitute while he was off duty, officials said.

So we have an apparent domestic violence case involving one police officer, and attempted patronizing of a prostitute on the other.

Why weren't they arrested and charged, with their names/addresses in the paper?

Any guesses?

I hate double standards.

[WNYresident]

SOmeone mentioned it's called the blue line or something on that order. Protect your own.