[MI] Probation for Essad.

...He informed [Judge] Kumar that he and his wife are undergoing marital counseling, and said he will do what it takes to become an upstanding citizen... With the charges lowered from a felony to misdemeanors, Essad will be able to appeal the termination through his union representative...
Previous entries:

• [MI] Combat instructor Officer Essad still TRUSTED after beating bloodying, breaking, balding his wife? - Shelby Township police officer faces criminal charges and his employment future is uncertain...
• [MI] Julie is suing her husband, Officer Essad - ...she was treated for a fat lip, black eye, a broken nose and a bruise on her neck; she was readmitted the next week when it was determined she had suffered a closed-head injury...
• [MI] Detective Essad fired. Beating Julie tarnished department. - ...[Police Chief Robert Leman] "Your conduct on April 11, 2008 violates state law and department guidelines... Your behavior also tarnishes the police department's mission to serve and protect the citizens of Shelby Township"...
• [MI] After brutal dv assault, fired Detective Essad seems to be on his way back - ...Julie Essad said he repeatedly pulled her hair and banged her head against the driver's side window... continued to scream and bit her ear... then brandished his gun and made threats to kill her...

Former cop gets probation in assault trial
Shelby Township Source
By CHRIS WILLIAMS
September 14, 2008
[Excerpts] A former Shelby Township police officer arrested last April for domestic violence has been sentenced to two years probation by an Oakland County Judge. The Honorable [?] Shalina Kumar sentenced David Essad on two counts of aggravated domestic violence in Oakland County Circuit Court on Sept. 9... Essad pleaded guilty to the charges in front of Kumar on Aug. 5. Essad, an 8-year veteran of the Shelby Township Police Department, had initially been charged with felonious assault, which could have resulted in jail time, but the charges were lowered when his wife submitted a letter to the court stating that the situation was an isolated incident that happened because both she and Essad had been drinking. Essad, who has been in alcohol treatment since the incident, briefly addressed Kumar at the sentencing. “This unfortunate incident was a direct result of my abuse of alcohol,” he said. He informed Kumar that he and his wife are undergoing marital counseling, and said he will do what it takes to become an upstanding citizen. Kumar agreed to sentence Essad to two years probation for each count. Kumar also ordered Essad to have no alcohol in his system, submit to alcohol and drug testing, and continue his participation in an alcohol treatment program. He is not to carry a firearm except for his employment; during the fight with his wife, he had taken his gun out of the holster and banged it on his car’s window. Essad, who is currently working as a security guard, was terminated from his position with the police department June 16... With the charges lowered from a felony to misdemeanors, Essad will be able to appeal the termination through his union representative, said his lawyer, Jerome Sabbota... “He has already filed a grievance, so that’s where it starts.”... [Full article here]

FROM AN OLDER ARTICLE I HADN'T POSTED:

Officer accused of assault discharged from department
Shelby Township Source
By CHRIS WILLIAMS
July 13, 2008
A Shelby Township police officer has been discharged from the force amid allegations that he assaulted his wife in April. Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Leman officially notified David Essad of his termination via a memo dated June 26. The termination was the result of an administrative investigation conducted by Leman and Shelby Township Police Capt. Steven Stanbury... Julie Essad testified that her husband hit the dashboard and radio of the car, bit her ear and pulled out his gun. The couple pulled over into a parking lot at Tienken and Rochester roads, and David Essad allegedly unloaded his gun [?], punched the windshield with the weapon’s barrel and then chased his wife out of the vehicle before pushing her to the ground, slamming her head against the pavement and choking her... The event received media attention throughout the metropolitan Detroit area, which Leman said damaged the reputation of the department... Leman said David Essad also violated several departmental rules, regulations and policies on April 11, including using alcohol off-duty “to the extent that it discredits (himself) or the department,” conduct unbecoming an officer, using his firearm in an unacceptable manner and general misconduct... [Full article here]