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Sunday, May 25, 2008

[PA] Officer Hummer allowed to keep gun while under a restraining order

...Forks Township police Chief Greg Dorney said there has been no change in Hummer's status and the PFA filed against him does not require him to turn in his weapons. "I checked with the Northampton County Sheriff's Department and he is fully authorized to carry a weapon"...

SOME EXCERPTS FROM THIS MONTH'S NEWS:

Forks cop, woman face charges after domestic dispute
Posted by Michael Buck
May 04, 2008
A Forks Township police corporal and a woman face charges after they fought with each other early Sunday morning, Pennsylvania State Police at Belfast said. Forks Township police Cpl. Shawn Hummer, 30, of the 1000 block of Cosenza Court was fighting with Jennifer Ann Sam, 24, of Easton shortly before 3 a.m., police said. Officers were called to the scene for a report of a physical altercation... Forks Township Supervisor Erik Chuss, who is chairman of the public safety committee, said Sam filed an emergency protection from abuse order against Hummer after the incident... Police listed Hummer and Sam as both accused and victims in a news release sent Sunday morning. Police said harassment charges will be filed before District Judge Ralph Litzenberger... Hummer was cited in March 2007 for failure to obey traffic control devices when he caused a three-vehicle crash that injured two women on Route 512 and East Main Street in Pen Argyl. Hummer told the officer who investigated the crash he had two alcoholic drinks before the crash. That officer said Hummer passed the field sobriety tests with "flying colors." [Full article here]

Forks cop ordered to give up weapons
pennlive.com
Michael Buck
May 05, 2008
A Forks Township police corporal will have to surrender his weapons following a judge issuing a temporary protection from abuse order Monday against the officer. While Shawn Hummer, 30, of Forks Township, remains on active duty, it is a question how he can serve if he can't carry a gun. "Obviously, if he is not allowed to carry a gun, that's an issue," police Chief Greg Dorney says... Sam's version of the story was available through PFA paperwork. Sam says she returned home early Sunday morning to find Hummer in bed with another woman. "I kept asking him what he was doing," Sam wrote. "I walked around the side of the bed, he got up and grabbed me by (my) throat." They tussled down the stairs, Sam wrote, with her missing the final few. It was Hummer who asked friends to call police, Sam wrote, and state police entered the investigation because it involves a Forks police officer. No charges had been filed as of today, but police said they were going to file harassment charges against both people. [Full article here]

Forks Twp. officer with PFA need not surrender weapons
pennlive.com
Michael Buck
May 06, 2008
A Forks Township police corporal is allowed to keep his weapons pending a ruling Monday by a county judge during a protection from abuse hearing. Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Jacqueline Taschner said she was incorrect when she said Shawn Hummer, a Forks Township police officer, would need to surrender his firearms because a temporary PFA was filed against him... TASCHNER SAID THE COUNTY JUDGE WHO ISSUED THE TEMPORARY PFA DID NOT STIPULATE THE WEAPONS BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HUMMER. She said if the judge finds enough evidence at a hearing on Monday to extend the PFA, Hummer will be unable to possess firearms. A supervisor in the Northampton County protection from abuse office, who declined to give her name, said Hummer will be able to ask the county judge for an exception that allows him to carry a gun for his job... [Full article here]

Forks cop can keep guns pending hearing
Township Cpl. Shawn Hummer facing protection-from-abuse order
The Express-Times
By Michael Buck
May 07, 2008
A TOWNSHIP POLICE CORPORAL IS ALLOWED TO KEEP HIS WEAPONS pending a ruling Monday by a county judge during a protection-from-abuse hearing. Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Jacqueline Taschner said she was incorrect when she said Shawn Hummer, a Forks Township police officer, would have to surrender his firearms because a temporary PFA was filed against him... Forks Township police Chief Greg Dorney said there has been no change in Hummer's status and the PFA filed against him does not require him to turn in his weapons. "I checked with the Northampton County Sheriff's Department and he is fully authorized to carry a weapon"... [Full article here]

Protection order against cop extended
Cpl. Shawn hummer remains on active duty, can keep his weapons.
The Express-Times
By MICHAEL BUCK
May 13, 2008
A Northampton County judge extended a temporary protection-from-abuse order Monday against a Forks Township police corporal but did not force him to turn over his firearms, allowing him to keep working. Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden granted Jennifer Sam's petition to extend the PFA against Shawn D. Hummer, 30, of Forks Township. McFadden granted a 30-day PFA order. She could have extended it as far as three years. McFadden said she "reluctantly" allowed Hummer to keep his weapons, based on past experiences with similar cases "that have turned sour." Had McFadden not given the exception, Hummer would have had to turn in all of his firearms, including his service weapon... Hummer testified Monday that Sam burst into his bedroom about 2 a.m. and began screaming vulgarities and repeatedly saying "What are you doing?" Hummer said he grabbed Sam by the arm to try to get her out of the bedroom. Hummer said the woman in his bed was a childhood friend who needed a place to stay for the night after being out with friends. He said the pair went to bed "with every intention of just sleeping." [Full article here]

Judge orders 30-day PFA against Forks officer
He won't have to cede weapons, which could have jeopardized job.
Allentown Morning Call
By Joe McDonald
May 13, 2008
...Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden could have issued a three-year PFA against officer Shawn Hummer that confiscated his weapons. McFadden ordered Hummer, 30, to stay away from his former girlfriend, Jennifer Ann Sam, 24... Hummer's lawyer, Gary Asteak of Easton, described what happened between Sam and Hummer as a tussle and didn't rise to the level of abuse that would trigger a PFA that could cost Hummer his job... Hummer's boss, Police Chief Greg Dorney watched the testimony from the rear of the courtroom. Outside the courtroom, Dorney said he will pass on what he heard to the township solicitor for his review. [Full article here]

FROM LAST YEAR:

Police: Forks Twp. officer admitted drinking before wreck
pennlive.com.
Douglas B. Brill
April 30, 2007 16:07PM
A Forks Township police officer was drinking before he caused a crash that injured two people, according to police. Days later, the borough officer who investigated the crash resigned. Shawn Hummer, 29, of the 200 block of Cherry Hill Road in Bushkill Township, told police he had two drinks Feb. 25 before he caused a three-car wreck... Hummer, who was not on duty, admitted to the investigating patrolman, Pen Argyl police officer Ryan Vresics, that he had two beers before the 5 p.m. crash. Vresics said Hummer passed a field sobriety test that included "standard balance tests." No other police officers witnessed the test, Pen Argyl police Chief Philip Viglione said. Those who witnessed the crash, including the injured victims, said they did not see the field sobriety test, either... Police Officer Jonathan Hoadley agreed with Vresics that Hummer was not drunk, according to the report. Viglione said Hoadley did not see a field sobriety test... Joel Fetherman, 33, of the 200 block of Park Avenue in Bangor, who said he suffered minor injuries after Hummer's vehicle hit his, said he smelled alcohol on Hummer's breath after the crash... Hummer was charged with failing to obey traffic control devices, a summary offense that includes fines and costs totaling $112.50. The charge means Hummer, who was cited by mail, does not receive points on his license. Vresics resigned March 2 and has since been hired by Bushkill Township police. [Full article here]

Slate Belt Roundup for May 9: Cop crash raised red flags
Posted by Douglas B. Brill
May 08, 2007 19:38PM
...The Shawn Hummer crash was not as extensively investigated - probably because it couldn't be. Officials, who were predictably tight-lipped for the privacy of personnel issues, had reason to wonder if responding Pen Argyl police officer Ryan Vresics covered up a DUI for Hummer. Here's why: Hummer admitted to drinking before the crash. Vresics at some time before the crash said he would be uncomfortable arresting a fellow officer. Vresics resigned less than a week after the crash. Vresics did not test Hummer's blood-alcohol content. Vresics said he administered a field sobriety test. But the Express-Times didn't come across anyone who saw it. Four crash victims and two crash witnesses said they didn't see the test. Police Chief Philip Viglione said no other cops saw it -- not even Jonathan Hoadley, who assisted at the scene. Steven Horvath, the department's top accident scene investigator, said he didn't see it... Vresics has a bad memory. When I asked him about his stated unease for arresting a fellow officer, he said he didn't recall saying that... Vresics said he doesn't remember where Hummer said he was before the crash. He said he doesn't remember where Hummer said he drank. He said he doesn't remember how Hummer left the scene. He said he doesn't remember who Hummer left with. And how's this for conflicted: Vresics' accident report, which Pen Argyl would not release, listed Hummer's physical condition as "apparently normal" and "had been drinking." Does that mean it's normal for Hummer to drink before he drives? When I asked Chief Viglione and DA Morganelli if there was a cover up, neither said that there was not a cover up. They both said they don't know because they weren't at the scene. "We're kind of stuck with the officer's observations," Morganelli said. Fair enough. That's all they could really say without getting sued... [Full article here]

Nazareth Police Ripping Off Taxpayers
Lehigh Valley Ramblings
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
...Skateboarders felt it before anyone else. On Easter weekend, they were outside Schaeffer school. Some were playing ball while others played around with their shredsleds. When two part-time cops drove by, no one paid much attention. But suddenly, the rules had changed. Cops exploded from their cruiser, including a belligerent Officer Shawn Hummer. He screamed that he's "fuckin' tired" of kids skateboarding at Schaeffer, and proceeded to collect 18 skateboards, chipping away at them and laughing in the process. "Oops. Looks like I just chipped another board," Hummer laughed as he tossed boards in the cruiser. He also seized a bicycle and a very dangerous ball... [From "Comments"] ...Nazareth's own Officer Hummer, who also works in Forks, was involved in an accident in May. Drinking was involved. The officer who refused to cite him had to leave the force. Is that helping people? Officer Hummer, a few weeks ago, was ejected from Flurer's after being in a fight. Again, booze was involved. Is that helping people?... [Full article here]

1 comment:

  1. AnonymousMay 25, 2008

    Excerpts from the 79 TOPIX FORUM Comments
    http://www.topix.com/forum/source/baltimore-sun/THI85QTGF9E9UIA5S

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    You are right
    Allentown, PA
    #3
    Tuesday May 6

    young wrote: This hummer is nothing but a screw up. His whole platoon he runs is a bunch of drunks and its more like a frat house. He should have been arrested for the DUI in Pen Argyl. But wait lets give him another chance now
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    But will Shawn give another chance to a average person he pulls over for DUI? I think not! Shawn is a hot head and everybody in the law enforcement community seen this coming from 100 miles away. Shawn you give us good guys a bad name!! Everybody thinks you should resign. Stop living the lie of being a good guy when you are a drunk, women hitting, dorky looking skinny white boy!

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    HA HA
    Allentown, PA
    #4
    Tuesday May 6

    Mouse Pad wrote: If she had a PFA against him, what in the heck was she doing at HIS house at 2am? He obviously has a history of domestic violence - why wasn't this brought to Dorney's attention earlier?
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    Shawn does have a history of domestic abuse, ask the PA State Police. They turn him down because of this abuse problem and Shawn likes to pick up women on domestic abuse calls!!! This has been a long time coming for this cop. Hitting women, driving drunk, covering up for other cops who did not show up to work, and the list goes on...
    Tarnished Sheba


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    ARD Shawn
    Allentown, PA
    #6
    Tuesday May 6

    forksbs wrote:officer hummer is a stand up man and citizen. I refuse to believe a line of this story. I am amazed that the morning call would put his address in the paper like this. All you bloggers make me sick. Innocent before guilty. Remember that.
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    No he is not! He is a bumb who never should have been allowed to become a police officer in the first place!!! Ask Shawn why he had to do ARD before he started the police academy!!! This guy has been pulled over numerous times for dui and left go! This piece of S*it has had women problem before that got covered up! Asked Shawn when he got refuse/turned down for the state police!!! It was over hitting woman.

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    OMFG
    Allentown, PA
    #7
    Tuesday May 6

    This guy was a hot head since first grade. How did he become a cop with the aggravated assault conviction he has? Oh yea, he paid a lot of money and got ARD to attempt to hide his violent past. Everybody knows of the Hummers and how violent they are!!!! Grow up Shawn!!!!
    P.S. Shawn you are just like your brother now I hope your parents are proud!!!!

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    Holy Cow
    Lancaster, PA
    #10
    Tuesday May 6

    Shawn Hummer, WTF? Jennifer Sam, WTF? Are you children or adults. My question is to Jennifer, what were you doing there if you don't own the home? You weren't even living there. You were trespassing, young lady! If your relationship is over, why go back for more. Look at where it got you. He is certainly not worth it. Now you both look stupid! Shawn is an abuser. Why would you want more. Seriously, if he wants to sleep with another woman (as painful as that is) let him. That is now the other woman's problem, not yours. Feel relieved that someone else is there for the abuse instead of you. Shawn, you would think you would have learned from your cousin Larry Honey that a bitch aint worth it. You could have made Jennifer snap from all of your dishonesty.

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    dah
    Lancaster, PA
    #11
    Tuesday May 6

    Shawn is an abuser. He and his dad are awful. They are a very aggressive family. They drink and brawl with everyone. As a matter of fact, Shawn and Bill Sr. beat the hell out of his brother's father in law in the parking lot of the Holy Family Club. The only reason the lawsuit never went anywhere was because the father in law died. Shawn was also kicked out of Albright college because he assaulted someone so bad that the young man can never breath through his nose again. Shawn got sued for that and completed ARD and that is how he became a cop. It is really sad how police departments look past these things. We as citizens are supposed to be protected from people like this. It is ironic that even though Shawn got in a terrible fight at the Holy Family Club during a wedding, it is even worse because he is employed by Nazareth PD as well. As far as Greg Dorney is concerned, he is going to take care of his own. Greg and his girlfriend Angela party with Shawn frequently. Greg Dorney is part of the problem in Forks, not the solution. Greg has hired almost all of Hummer's friends and they are ALL DRUNKS! They really have a lot of nerve enforcing DUI's. When Shawn got in that car accident last year, he was wasted. This is a fact. Pen Argyl covered for him because "they all stick together." I just hope this is enough insight for all the police departments to perform better background checks and to actually hire quality police officers. These police officers need to know that they are NOT ABOVE THE LAW!

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    two sides to every story
    Dumfries, VA
    #13
    Tuesday May 6

    dah wrote: Shawn is an abuser. He and his dad are awful... [SNIP]
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    jennifer do you think this going to help your case?

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    Roscoe PCoaltrain
    Kunkletown, PA
    #14
    Tuesday May 6

    I've known Shawn for a long time,always the gentleman. He acted right by trying to escort an unwanted visitor that invaded he and his guests privacy at 3AM. He did the right thing by calling the police on her when she refused to leave HIS home. I wouldn't be as proper as he was to remove an unwanted person that invaded my home at 3AM. Every body wants to bash a cop. As far as the Hummer family bashing, they are all good people that would do anything for anybody at anytime. I would guess all of Shawn's EX's aren't from Texas. I think a few of the bashers fit the mold.

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    paper reader
    New Tripoli, PA
    #18
    Tuesday May 6

    For all you people bashing the Hummer's GET A LIFE!!!! They are one of the nicest families around, as for Jen she is just childish,ridiculous, and just looking for attention. JEN get over him he does not want to be with you!! He can sleep with whoever he wants to

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    Very Disappointed
    Allentown, PA
    #19
    Tuesday May 6

    dah wrote: Shawn is an abuser. He and his dad are awful... [SNIP]
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    This guy is a joke and an embarassment to the law enforcement community! This situation is a long time coming. When you ask cops from down in that area about Shawn Hummer, they just put their heads down and say I am surprise he is still a cop. Live and learn from this Shawn and get your head out of your a s s! Oh who am I trying to kid, you already had trouble like this before and you did not learn from it, loser!

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    DAH
    Lancaster, PA
    #20
    Tuesday May 6

    WHO ARE YOU KIDDING? The Hummer's are not nice people. The mother moved out at one point because her husband was so abusive. Whoever wrote this should get a f*&%in' clue. What would be better, headlines reading, "Hummer's kill children and family in DUI Accident." You should GET A LIFE! Who is this anyway...GREG DORNEY or BILL SR?

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    Assumptions
    Nazareth, PA
    #25
    Tuesday May 6

    To all of you who assume you know everything about Shawn Hummer... You don't. You hear rumors and then post it on this page. Ok maybe he did get into a fight at a bar (a long time ago) and broke a guys nose, but do you know if the guy had it coming? No, you don't... you just post things on this page to bash him without knowing the entire story. And now... an ex-girlfriend comes into his house AT 3AM!!!!!! and starts going crazy when she finds him with another girl. He then calls the police to get her out and now people are blaming him. LOL Typical.... all you guys who are bashing Shawn should first find out the facts (all of them) before writing it here. NEVER ASSUME....IT MAKES AN ARS OUT OF YOU....

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    I know
    Allentown, PA
    #28
    Tuesday May 6

    What about his dui accident that got covered up? That is a fact not fiction. What about how he was deniled by the PA State Police because of his PREVIOUS PFAs against him??? That is fact too!!! Is this Shawn sister? I bet it is! What about him lying at work about another cop who did not show up for his shift? That is also a fact!!! And the list goes on. This guy is a white wannabe punk who cheap shotted some poor guy in a bar and got kicked out of college. Bet his parents were proud of him. Wait compare to Bill (Shawn's white power brother) Shawn is a saint! Every cop I know talks about how Shawn is a black eye to law enforcement, and that is the truth honey!

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    AMEN TO YALL
    Lancaster, PA
    #35
    Wednesday May 7

    To all you people who love Shawn, he is scum. Just ask the Bethlehem barracks of the State Police why Shawn didn't get into the State Police. Could it have been the fact that he slept with a minor from PenArgyl when he was 25. Hey, check that one Belfast State police. Or maybe it is because he abused his ex's and stalked them. Hey Dorney, hire another quality cop! That's right, you're one of them too.
    WTF
    Lancaster, PA

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    #36
    Wednesday May 7

    It is also interesting that the investigation is being handled by Belfast because Hummers parents neighbor is a State cop.


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    ASSUMTIONS
    Easton, PA#43
    Wednesday May 7

    I know wrote: What about his dui accident that got covered up?... [SNIP]
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    Again you assume everything. Shawn did not lie about anyone at work nor did he cheap shot anyone at a bar. You think you know everything yet you were not there. You weren't at the alleged "DUI Accident" There was no blood taken that said he was above the legal limit. You have no proof about any of the comments you have made. Your full of it!!!! You make up stories and post it on this site. Its really sad. Again your assuming that the stories you hear are correct which they are not. Believe nothing what you hear and only half of what you see. You should take stock in this concept and STOP SPREADING RUMORS!!!!!!!!

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    Girlfriend of the blue
    Allentown, PA
    #48
    Thursday May 8

    I find this whole situation appalling. Why do people feel that they need to gossip about Corporal Hummer and not Ms. Sam? Ms. Sam is at fault as much if not more than Corporal Hummer. What sane person walks into their ex boyfriends home at 3am? If someone entered my home at 3am, I would find it a serious threat. In addition, The Hummer family has nothing to do with Corporal Hummer in the investigation. I truly believe that the reason that Corporal Hummer is the target is due because Ms. Sam’s friends and herself are attempting to make waves. Corporal Hummer will rise above all this and be successful. I have nothing but positive things to say about the Hummer family. They never did me wrong and I never did them wrong. Friends are in support of him and the hard work he does. I can not saw that all of these things did or did not happen I was not there. We can not wait to have this over so we can get our friend back. NEVER FORGET THAT POLICE WILL DO MORE ACTS OF BRAVERY IN A 12 HOUR SHIFT THAN AVERAGE CITIZEN WILL IN A LIFE TIME.

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    Speaking out
    Allentown, PA
    #50
    Thursday May 8

    ASSUMTIONS wrote: Again you assume everything. Shawn did not lie about anyone at work nor did he cheap shot anyone at a bar. You think you know everything yet you were not there. You weren't at the alleged "DUI Accident" There was no blood taken that said he was above the legal limit. You have no proof about any of the comments you have made. Your full of it!!!! You make up stories and post it on this site. Its really sad. Again your assuming that the stories you hear are correct which they are not. Believe nothing what you hear and only half of what you see. You should take stock in this concept and STOP SPREADING RUMORS!!!!!!!!
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    Hey now, these are facts!!! Why do I know this? Maybe because Shawn told me himself!!! And his friends he speaks to can't keep their mouths shut. And maybe because I am a cop who is tried of having idiots like him give my profession a black eye. The reason why there was no blood drawn from Shawn is they covered this dui up and everybody knows it and you are going to defend him? If you have .02 BAL you can be charged with dui, look it up. Very disappointing. People like Shawn want to enforce the laws of PA but at the same time they're breaking them. Hypocrite!!!!

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