[NY] Fired, reinstated Officer Lewis arrested for assault on his wife

...Lewis is accused of grabbing and pushing his wife after she apparently tried to prevent him from leaving the home with their 1-year-old son... He allegedly grabbed her around the neck during a later encounter in his vehicle... In 1998, Lewis was fired by then-Mayor Albert Jurczynski on the recommendation of a hearing officer who said Lewis had a history of disciplinary problems... A state arbitrator reversed the hearing officer's decision... Lewis, hired in April 1994, had only one other serious blemish on his record at that time, an unspecified incident that brought him a 24-day suspension in late 1995...

Police officer allegedly grabbed wife
Schenectady Gazette, NY
By Steven Cook
May 2, 2008
A Schenectady police officer whom the city fired and then was forced to rehire 10 years ago has been suspended after his arrest on allegations he grabbed and pushed his wife, police said. John W. Lewis, 38, of Oregon Avenue, was charged Tuesday with one count of second-degree harassment, a violation. He is accused of grabbing and pushing his wife during a dispute over their child just after 3 p.m. on Plymouth Avenue, according to papers filed in court. Lewis had been attempting to leave with their infant son. He also allegedly grabbed his wife in the face and neck area while she was inside of his vehicle with their son, according to papers. Lewis was suspended without pay shortly after, Police Department spokesman Lt. Brian Kilcullen said... The charge came as a result of cooperation by Lewis’ wife, Kilcullen said. The department’s domestic violence policy, which requires arrest regardless of cooperation, did not come into play because the charge was a violation. Lewis was fired by the department in 1998 after he was accused of using a racial slur during an off-duty incident on Feb. 27, 1998, behind the city police headquarters on Liberty Street. Several people overheard the remark. The city, however, was ordered to rehire Lewis when an arbitrator ruled the city was “unduly harsh” in firing him. Lewis, hired in April 1994, had only one other serious blemish on his record at that time, an unspecified incident that brought him a 24-day suspension in late 1995... [Full article here]

Officer faces internal charges
Burlington Free Press
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer
Friday, May 2, 2008
A city police officer suspended after being charged in a domestic dispute case this week is subject to administrative charges to be decided by Police Commissioner Wayne Bennett... John Lewis, a 14-year-veteran, was charged with second-degree harassment, a violation, Tuesday afternoon in connection with the dispute with his wife inside their Plymouth Avenue home... The couple are going through a divorce. He was suspended Wednesday without pay for 30 days. Lewis is accused of grabbing and pushing his wife after she apparently tried to prevent him from leaving the home with their 1-year-old son, the complaint said. He allegedly grabbed her around the neck during a later encounter in his vehicle. Police officers have due process rights under the civil service law and can't be dismissed without cause... [Full article here]