SCHENECTADY Ruling: Officer should be fired BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Schenectady’s hearing officer has ruled that yet another police officer should be fi red. Officer Michael R. Brown, 28, who admitted to driving drunk, crashing into a car at a red light and then leaving the scene, is now being encouraged to resign, one city offi cial said. Another offi - cial said that Jeffrey Selchick’s recommendation unequivocally called for Brown’s termination. Mayor Brian U. Stratton had previously said he wanted to fire Brown, but not solely because he drove drunk. Another officer who drove drunk — but did not cause an accident and agreed to take a Breathalyzer test when stopped by police — was allowed to take a demotion instead. Stratton said the difference was that Brown crashed into a car, injured the driver, left the scene and refused a Breathalyzer test. Brown had worked for the Schenectady Police Department for five years when he was charged with DWI on March 1, 2009. He has been on paid suspension ever since, with the exception of two 30-day periods without pay. The city can withhold pay when an officer is charged and when the officer pleads guilty to a crime, as Brown did early this year. Although the hearing offi cer has recommended termination, the mayor makes the fi nal decision. Brown does have some support: His aunt, City Councilwoman Barbara Blanchard, has long argued that Brown did not truly leave the scene. He turned down a side street before pulling over. “He shouldn’t have done that. But you know, he had a head injury,” she said. “He walked back. He was helping the person he hit. So it’s not like he was running away.” She’s hoping Stratton will take that into consideration and pick a lesser punishment when he announces Brown’s discipline, possibly next week. “He has been an outstanding officer,” Blanchard said, noting that he used his time on suspension to finish his bachelor’s degree in political science at the University at Albany. “Many people have contacted the mayor about his abilities. He’s not in the category of the other offi cers at all.” .......................>>>>.................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00902&AppName=1
He should not fired. People make mistakes, and if he is a good cop and shows remorse then he should not be fired no matter who his aunt is. Who hasn't made the mistake of drinking and driving. He turned around and went back. Slap him on the wrist and he will have learned a valuable life lesson!
He should not fired. People make mistakes, and if he is a good cop and shows remorse then he should not be fired no matter who his aunt is. Who hasn't made the mistake of drinking and driving. He turned around and went back. Slap him on the wrist and he will have learned a valuable life lesson!
He's politically connected. Of course he shouldn't be fired.TIC
The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is apt to spread discontent among those who are. ~ H.L. Mencken
SCHENECTADY Cop resigns before getting fired BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Police Officer Michael R. Brown resigned Friday, bowing to a hearing officer’s recommendation that he lose his job for crashing into a car while driving drunk last year. Brown, 28, was devastated to learn that Hearing Offi cer Jeffrey Selchick recommended he be fired, City Councilwoman Barbara Blanchard said. She is his aunt. “He was expecting to win this. Everyone was,” she said. “The hearing officer didn’t feel he showed enough remorse.” After learning the mayor was going to fire him next week, Brown chose to resign, Blanchard said. She had argued that termination was too severe because Brown tried to help the driver he hit. However, Brown first left the scene, driving down a side road. Then he stopped and walked back with a serious head injury. When police arrived, he was assisting the other driver, Blanchard said. He refused a Breathalyzer test. This year he pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated, causing a personal injury accident and leaving the scene of the accident. While much of the focus on Brown’s actions have revolved around whether he truly left the scene, Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett said the city worked to fire Brown mainly because he hurt another driver. “An accident involving personal injury or death to an innocent party elevates it to a new level,” he said. “If there’s an accident plus injury or death, that starts the conversation.” Refusing the Breathalyzer wasn’t a serious issue, he added. “In a lot of these cases that’s done on the advice of counsel,” he said, noting that criminal court penalizes drivers by suspending their license. ..................>>>>..................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00900&AppName=1
The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is apt to spread discontent among those who are. ~ H.L. Mencken
Logged
I notice the family resemblance. I really though Ba-Ba was more politically astute. Efforts like this are better under the radar. 
