...Danville Police Chief Keith Gill said he has faith Cunningham can put the incident behind him. "I don't excuse anything Jerry did or allegedly did, don't get me wrong. I don't excuse that... I do know that there are different things and reasons that people kind of snap or go off. There were a lot of things going on behind that. I personally think it was probably a one-time deal... I think that Jerry Cunningham will appreciate he has been given a second chance and I expect him to be a fine patrol officer"... Mike Willard was injured in the incident and Cunningham's [estranged] wife also suffered a minor foot injury... Cunningham pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of battery in the case...
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[IN] The arrest and suspension of Danville Asst. Police Chief Jerry Cunningham - Assistant Police Chief Jerry Cunningham is charged for tearing off the screen door and kicking in the wood door of a man's house where his ESTRANGED, divorcing wife was - and then assaulting the man and Cunningham's soon to be EX wife. Instead of being thrown on the ground and arrested, the police CHIEF came and whisked him away to the chief's home, where hours later he was arrested in a more dignified surrounding I guess. To the people of Danville who do not think Cunningham should be held accountable, be careful. People here in Tacoma Washington supported our police chief too and closed out his wife. Soon they were both dead by his hand. Protect the people being attacked, not the attacker...
WHOOPS!
[FEDERAL] Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban Fact Sheet:
...The 1996 Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and passed as an amendment to the 1996 Treasury-Postal Appropriations Bill, prohibits the owning or using of fire arms if an individual (1) has ever been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence offense or (2) is currently subject to a restraining order regarding an intimate partner or the child of such a partner...
The ban applies to everyone. There is NO exception for law enforcement or military personnel.
The law applies to ANY misdemeanor domestic violence conviction... [LINK]
OFFICER DEMOTED, WILL KEEP JOB AFTER ARREST: Assistant Chief Arrested In Domestic Situation
theindychannel.com
December 31, 2010
A former assistant police chief has been demoted but will keep his job after he was charged in a domestic disturbance.
A merit board voted Thursday night to reduce the rank of Danville police Col. Jerry Cunningham to patrolman.
Cunningham, who has been suspended without pay, was arrested on charges of domestic battery, battery with injury and unlawful residential entry.
Police said Cunningham forced his way into a home where his wife was visiting a male friend. The other man was injured in a scuffle, and his wife was hurt while trying to break up the fight.
Cunningham pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of battery in the case.
Danville Police Chief Keith Gill said he has faith Cunningham can put the incident behind him.
"I don't excuse anything Jerry did or allegedly did, don't get me wrong. I don't excuse that,” he said. “I do know that there are different things and reasons that people kind of snap or go off. There were a lot of things going on behind that. I personally think it was probably a one-time deal."
Cunningham has been with the department for 22 years. The demotion will cost him as much as $6,000 in annual pay. [LINK]
DANVILLE DEMOTION: FORMER ASSISTANT CHIEF TO LOSE 18% OF PAY: Assistant Police Chief Jerry Cunningham was arrested in October after getting into a fight with his estranged wife's boyfriend.
fox59.com
By Gene Cox Fox59
December 31, 2010
In a unanimous vote by the Metropolitan Police Board of Commissioners in Danville, former Assistant Chief of Police Jerry Cunningham was demoted to patrolman effective January 1, 2011.
Cunningham was not present at the Thursday night announcement, but several of his fellow officers were.
The crowd much smaller than the one that gathered to support Cunningham, 45, in October a few days after he was arrested for his role in a domestic battery incident. After the Police Board vote Chief of Police Keith Gill told reporters giving Cunningham a chance to stay on the force was the right decision.
"I think that Jerry Cunningham will appreciate he has been given a second chance and I expect him to be a fine patrol officer," said Chief Gill.
Chief Gill says Cunningham's pay will be reduced about five to six thousand dollars a year or roughly 18%.
The 20-year Danville police veteran, at first, faced one felony and other misdemeanor charges but he this week pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge.
According to a Hendricks County Sheriff's Department report Cunningham "tore off a screen door" and illegally entered the home of his estranged wife's new boyfriend.
Mike Willard was injured in the incident and Cunningham's wife also suffered a minor foot injury.
The misdemeanor plea deal was reached with a special prosecutor called in from neighboring Boone County.
PREVIOUS STORY:
A Danville police officer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge at the Hendricks County Courthouse Wednesday.
Assistant Police Chief Jerry Cunningham was arrested in October after getting into a fight with his estranged wife's boyfriend.
Cunningham claimed he was out for a walk when broke into a home where his wife and the other man were. Investigators said Cunningham tore the screen door off the man's house and struck him. The officer's wife was injured as she tried to break up the struggle.
Two of the charges against him were dropped as part of a plea deal. If Cunningham had been convicted of the felony attempted residential entry or the domestic battery count, he would not have been allowed to own a gun, and could not have been an officer.
"The big key here is that Jerry is hopeful that he will be able to maintain his job with the Danville Police Department as Assistant Police Chief so that was a lot of the motivation for accepting the plea and doing what he did," said Paul Hadley, Cunningham's attorney.
Danville Police Chief Keith Gill told Fox59 Cunningham can not be Assistant Chief again. The rest is up to the Metro Board of Police. The board can decide to keep Cunningham as a Sergeant or as a lesser rank. The board could also choose to dismiss Cunningham from the department.
The board meets Thursday, December 30th at 6:00 p.m. in the Danville City Hall. The executive meeting is closed to the public, but the vote to determine Officer Cunningham's fate will be open to the public. [LINK]
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence (ipv) abuse law enforcement public safety indiana state preferential treatment teflon]
On Topix
ReplyDeleteWednesday Dec 29
"...He has been hired by the Brownsburg police force and he has actually doubled his annual salary..."
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/avon-in/TB8OIAGTNI394DE4H/p3
It appears there is one rule of law for Police Officers and one for the general public. Police Officers will always protect there own, much to their shame.
ReplyDeleteHow many Police Officers are true to what the Uniform and Badge stand for? Unfortunately I have had first had experience of the abuser in blue as have my children, as well as heard the abuse being exscused. Protect and Serve means nothing when it involves a fellow Police Officer. How can they be proud of that.