Post by WaTcHeR on May 23, 2006 9:50:27 GMT -5
Officer Joseph Muszer
05/23/2006 - The South Bend Board of Public Safety demoted a police corporal Wednesday morning for drunk driving. Forty-six-year-old Corporal Joseph Muszer pled guilty to driving while intoxicated, for an incident back in February.
Officer Muszer was the third South Bend police officer charged with drunk driving since late last year. Wednesday morning, the Board of Public Safety approved a penalty for Muszer. The 21-year-veteran of the department will be suspended without pay for 30-days. Muszer will also be demoted from corporal to patrolman for six-months.
It is a punishment greater than what was recommended by South Bend Police Chief Tom Fautz. While Muszer and his attorney declined to comment about the punishment, the chief and the Board of Public Safety president did."From day one he wanted to make this into a positive. He's expressed regrets for any embarrassment he's caused the department, and he's actually approached me about helping other officers going through difficult times. He wanted to speak at roll calls; he wanted to make this into a positive, and I really respect that," said Chief Fautz. Safety Board President Jesusa Rodriguez said, "We realize that police officers are people, they're human beings, but we have to be held accountable, each of us, even myself, have to be held accountable for our own actions."Muszer's suspension starts Thursday.