Chicago Cop’s DUI Case Heating Up: Weiss Says No Favors Given To Frugoli In His Two Prior Accidents

Our Chicago DUI lawyers continue to follow the tragic alleged homicide and DUI charges against Chicago Decetive Joseph Frugoli. Monday, Police Supt. Jody Weis said he didn’t believe Frugoli received any “professional courtesies” from authorities in two earlier traffic incidents. No professional courtesies in the past? Really? We’ll let the readers judge for themselves.

Full story below:

Chicago cop charged in fatal DUI crash: Cop had no passes in past cases, Police Supt. Jody Weis says

Officers are held to higher standards, he says

By Angela Rozas | Tribune reporter

Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis said Monday he didn’t believe a detective charged with reckless homicide and DUI in a fatal crash last week received any “professional courtesies” from authorities in two earlier traffic incidents.

Joseph Frugoli, 41, had not been administered field sobriety tests in a January 2005 crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway near 31st Street in which he rear-ended another vehicle or a January 2008 incident in which he struck a police vehicle near Pershing Road and Iron Street while off duty. Tickets were dropped in both cases.

“I have no reason to believe there were any professional courtesies that were extended to him,” Weis said at a news conference on another issue.

Frugoli, who appeared in court Monday for a brief hearing, has been charged with two counts each of reckless homicide and aggravated DUI, plus one count of leaving the scene of a fatal crash. He left the hearing without comment and is expected in court again May 1.

In Friday’s crash, authorities said Frugoli’s blood-alcohol content was .277, more than three times the legal limit for driving.

Frugoli’s crash was the latest incident involving off-duty officers and alcohol. Several officers were arrested in high-profile bar fights and attacks in recent years. Weis said the department recognizes alcohol abuse among officers is a problem and he has pushed for more training and developed more education programs to address it. Under the department’s general orders, no officer can be intoxicated on or off duty.

“They’re authorized to use deadly force. And when you have that authority and that responsibility, it does hold you to a higher standard than John Q. Citizen who you might live beside,” Weis said. “So is it fair? Perhaps not. But that’s part of the oath when you become police officer. You are not the same as everybody else.”

In 2008, 15 officers were arrested for DUI, nearly double the arrests in 2007, he said.

Police said Friday’s crash occurred at about 3:30 a.m. on the southbound Dan Ryan north of 18th Street after Andrew Cazares, 23, pulled his 1995 red Dodge Intrepid over to wait for help, possibly with a flat tire. Frugoli’s SUV slammed into the rear of the car, killing Cazares and Fausto Manzera, 21, in the fiery wreck. Frugoli was arrested after he walked away from the crash, authorities said.

In 2005, Frugoli slammed into a vehicle on the expressway and was ticketed for failure to reduce speed. The ticket was dropped when the other driver did not show up in court, according to the driver’s lawyer.

In January 2008, Frugoli was ticketed for ignoring a stop sign when he crashed into a police vehicle, injuring two officers. That ticket was also dismissed.

Two officers responding to the scene did not think Frugoli showed any signs of intoxication and did not give him a field sobriety test, a police source said. But an internal investigation was launched to determine whether the officers properly notified their supervisors, the source said. Those officers were later cleared, the source said.

Weis on Monday said that procedures have been changed regarding who must be notified if there’s “the slightest” potential that an officer may have been intoxicated while driving. The watch commander on duty must respond to the scene any time an officer could be intoxicated, Weis said.

If you have been arrested for a DUI in Chicago you need a quality Chicago DUI Attorney.

The Law Offices of James E. Fabbrini have years of experience protecting people charged with DUI. From first time DUI offenders to felony DUI, our Chicago DUI lawyers have successfully fought DUI charges in Chicago and the surrounding areas.

Protect your freedom, avoid trouble, and save yourself money. Contact our office today. All consultations are absolutely free. Call us at (312) 494-3131 or e-mail us your questions at Contact@WindyCityLawFirm.com