Three Years in Prison
- A Cook County judge today sentenced Chicago police Officer Richard Bolling to 3 years in prison for killing a 13-year-old boy in an off-duty DUI crash and fleeing the scene.
Bolling, 43, had tears in his eyes as Judge Matthew Coghlan announced his decision.
Last January a Criminal Court jury found Bolling, a 17-year veteran narcotics officer, guilty of aggravated DUI, reckless homicide, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Expect a bit of backlash on this one.
Labels: we got nothing
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
52 Comments:
it the backlash wont happen. obvious reasons. but thats ok.
well Im a copper and I say he should be doing 8 years minimum.. and the two idiot coppers from 022 who made asses out of themselves on the stand and lied but blamed it on supervisors should be fired also. I have no spot in my heart for drunk drivers coppers or not. I have a very very close tragedy that involved a drunk driver so They have no love from me. Give the keys to someone else people or take a cab..its easy. I hope he thinks about it every single day he is locked up in there.
Yeah but once we get the mayors speed trap cameras installed we won't have people driving drunk anymore. Now see...think about THAT!
The majority of people, maybe not the vast majority, have at least driven over the limit once in their lifetime. I highly doubt this was this officer's first time driving drunk. If you have open alcohol in your car, you are an asshole who is asking for trouble. If you think you are immune to a 501 because you have a star, you are delusional. If you get into a crash and hurt or kill someone, you are finished. Your freedom, your job, your finances and your family will be gone. You will be reminded everyday that you fucked up someone else's life as well. If you can't control your drinking, get help. If you can't accept help, drink at home.
Cozzi got more time than that!
OT This morning the court dismissed the case against Park Ridge Police Lt. Jason Leavitt.
Good Luck Rich. This was a tragic situation all around. No winners
Bolling did get off easy. Known him for years, and a very likable young man, but let's not forget someone's child is dead due to his very poor judgement. Being an officer of the law makes his decisions that fateful night even more
outrageous.
It is what it is...but the parents should be held responsible for having this kid out late in a bike in the middle of a busy intersection!
please officers and mcnutty take a cab. Three years? Sorry he got off easy.it will come back on appeal for the breath test.
Loo, we have all made mistakes in our lives, in our careers, but how about backing off the guy a bit. I know Rich, worked with him in SOS and worked for his father. He was a good cop, did his job well and didn't cause any problems. The situation is tragic. No winners here. I do not condone the drinking and driving, but I too do not condone the 13 year old being out and the parents allowing it. I am not saying that it wouldn't have happened, but had everyone involved here, parents included been more responsible, then this wouldn't have happened. Good luck Rich.
It's sad, what's more sad is a 13 yr. old out at 1:30 am. Where was the concerned individuals on that day?
"It is what it is...but the parents should be held responsible for having this kid out late in a bike in the middle of a busy intersection!"
Are you serious? This kid doesn't even qualify for a curfew violation! It's idiots like you that make us look even worse in a really bad situation. Someone's child is dead. I don't wish bad things on this PO, however, he fucked up and traded 3 years of his life for the entire life of a 17 year old. Sounds like he got off easy. Let's not blame the kid on the bike or the parents on this one dumbass!
Heard that the kid snuck out without the parents knowing...I wouldn't be alive right now if I did that at 13...
--No Cop Here
How many goofs do you find out there who have dozens of dui's and never did a long stretch in prison? I had a guy with 5 dui convictions and never did more time in jail than it took to make bail. I got him one year for driving on a revoked, sober. Was he pissed.
The judge said three years, so be it. His career is ruined and life inside isn't too good for a cop. Plenty enough and now he will get sued and lose what the lawyer didn't already get.
Don't drive drunk! Easy enough.
No one will publicly say the dead boy was out at 2 AM stealing bikes???
His family sure loves and misses him NOW.
Why didnt they keep him in the house at that time???
The only tragedy is for the copper and his family.
and NO, I DONT HAVE A HEART!!!
To all anti-police trolls....
Probably did get a light sentence. However, in this country a person's chosen profession does not mean we automatically give up the same rights everyone else has in the constitution. So anyone who thinks the Police should be given harsher sentences...well...you are an idiot.
It is what it is...but the parents should be held responsible for having this kid out late in a bike in the middle of a busy intersection!
3/07/2012 03:05:00 AM
Let's see how you feel about that when your kid sneaks out and is riding his bike with friends, asshole.
Not a cop, just a tax payer(city), payer(state) and payer(Fed) and glad to see that he will have to speak to recruits and HS students. If he is a capable speaker this may have impact and stop a future recurrence. Wow 17yrs down the drain for what??
Call a cab a buddy or walk. Not worth it,,,, ever to drive drunk.
Very said from every point of view, especially the loss of a life. No one will be the same after this. I hope all involved can find a way to move forward. Maybe all involved can find peace with God, and have peace with the little life that's left in this world. Because life is to short.
Great news about PARK RIDGE LT Leavitt!!!!!! Dont know him personally, but worked with his bro in 024 yrs ago. That story was absolutely bullshit from the start and can happen to most of us true policeman. We won this one !!
The people that will suffer are the families. I have no sympathy for anyone who kills because they decided to drive while intoxicated. Next time you go out and party, think about what could happen and call someone or take a cab. Driving while intoxicated is like taking a loaded gun and firing down the street.
Bob Gordon, Father of Officer Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04, Killed by a Drunk Driver
This guys life is over. What more do these assholes want. I am sure whatever money the family gets out of this will ease the pain. False outrage.
I dont necessarily disagree with the short prison sentence here.
A tragic accident occured. Leaving the scene, DUI etc, but I believe the parents of the victim have some responsibility here too. MAYBE the reason for the short prison term?
Why was the little kid out so late? Why did the parents allow it? Did the parents even know?
The actions of all party's concerned had terrible consequences, and this was an event that will haunt both families for a long long time.
What does it take for coppers to stop any drinking and driving bullshit? The funny things is some coppers do dui's on duty,but drive drunk off-duty! Hypocritical right boys and girls? If you drink don't drive, unless you want this to happen to you! goodbye freedom-job-pension-benefits-house-family!
He should of gotten ten easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cop or not!!!!!!!!! We all took the same oath!!!!!
if he had punched the kid in the head and it hit the curb,thats different. isnt that how it goes vanecko.
Officers in the past have gotten 4 years. Did anyone catch the in car audio released to the media? The on duty P.O. tells Bolling that the kid died and Bolling just starts yelling and crying saying "no no no". We should all learn from this. 17yrs on the job GONE in a flash! FAMILY gone in a flash! All for what? A few drinks with the guys! Take a cab home.
It is what it is...but the parents should be held responsible for having this kid out late in a bike in the middle of a busy intersection!
3/07/2012 03:05:00 AM
2:00 AM isn't late. Rather, it's the middle of the night. And the 13year-old wasn't out delivering newspapers. He was doing the same as he had done many, many times. Bolling was way wrong for his condition and actions and he has and will continue to suffer the consequences, but he didn't set out to take the kid's life. The kid's parent bears some responsibility, but they will be all grieved up and go for the lottery win in court. The parent didn't think the kid was worth being disciplined when he was alive, but now he's dead and worth a whole bunch of dough. Cha-cha-ching.
This piece of shit killed a kid. He killed a kid. Please don't give me the "the kid was garbage, the kid shouldn't have been out late at night", etc... This off duty police officer was drunk and he killed a kid. He only got 3 years in the slammer? He should have received more severe punishment.
Anonymous said...
well Im a copper and I say he should be doing 8 years minimum.. and the two idiot coppers from 022 who made asses out of themselves on the stand and lied but blamed it on supervisors should be fired also. I have no spot in my heart for drunk drivers coppers or not. I have a very very close tragedy that involved a drunk driver so They have no love from me. Give the keys to someone else people or take a cab..its easy. I hope he thinks about it every single day he is locked up in there.
3/07/2012 12:12:00 AM
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hey Stupid, learn your districts before you start slinging shit! This did not happen in 022 and the Officers handling it were NOT from 022!
To 5 a.m. you are a idiot and your the reason civilians who read this blog think we are idiots. Regardless if that kid should of been out or not and I agree he should of not. There is no way you can justify what happened, being his fault.
I am sorry i meant that for 305 a.m.
OT This morning the court dismissed the case against Park Ridge Police Lt. Jason Leavitt.
Awesome!! Real good guy.
Cook County Judge Nicholas Ford: thank you! for having the courage to dismiss the case against Park Ridge Police Lt. Jason Leavitt. It is a shame that the Cook County State's Attorneys have a loop-hole in Illinois law, making them immune from prosecution themselves.
This "case" involved "official misconduct." The ONLY official misconduct here was the malicious and false prosecution by ASAs in their pursuit of bogus complaints against a good cop. May these corrupt State's Attorneys reap their just reward (divine punishment), either in this life, or the next!
well Im a copper and I say he should be doing 8 years minimum.. and the two idiot coppers from 022 who made asses out of themselves on the stand and lied but blamed it on supervisors should be fired also. I have no spot in my heart for drunk drivers coppers or not. I have a very very close tragedy that involved a drunk driver so They have no love from me. Give the keys to someone else people or take a cab..its easy. I hope he thinks about it every single day he is locked up in there.
3/07/2012 12:12:00 AM
Your such a dumb ass, and I doubt your a copper!!!!! The officers were from the 006th Dist NOT 022!!! The kid was 13 and his father should be behind bars for negligence! What responsible parent allows his 13 year old to be in the street at 2am? His mother is on tv talking and she didn't even have custody of him. She was actually under investigation for theft from her job!!!!
When are we going to start taking care of each other again. It should not be every cop for himself. It should be no big deal to call the desk and have a car pick you up and take you home if you had to much to drink. Everyone is so scared of getting in trouble. Just because the bosses are all a bunch of scarerdy cats doesnt mean we have to be. STOP being scared. Be the police. Help each other to get to that pension.
Yet another reason why everyone hates us. Bolling DESERVED whatever John Q. Citizen would have gotten. And anyone who says different would feel differently if it was your son killed...
He disgraced himself and the uniform, 3yrs is a joke. This shit makes it harder for everyone else...
if he was illegal, he would be released and over the border, before the sun set. a year later be back driving again with no license. the dems want votes more than laws enforced.
I hated the lifestyle of my parents when I was a kid; They didn't smoke, they NEVER drank, they didn't party and made us all go to church 3 times a week. I thought they were ridiculous and felt exasperated by it.
I recall a neighborhood block party, all the men slammin' cold beers, then there was my dad, with a plastic cup of pink lemonaid.
I said: "DAD, WHY THE HECK CAN'T YOU JUST HAVE A BEER WITH THE OTHER MEN ? !" He say's; "Son, you know we don't drink alcohol in this family"
I walked away MAD & embarressed.
Now, 30 yrs later, GLAD and thankful, I never drink.
Everytime I read the horror stories like of this good policeman and family man but he drank -- -and see the agony of what it cost him - -
I'm the lucky one, I never touch the stuff, it's a freedom.
He made a bad decision to drink and drive and with that decision, it changed many lives. I believe it was a light jail sentence but everyday he has to live with the fact because of the decision he made, a life was taken. I feel for all who are involved. We all make bad decisions in life and sometimes nothing bad becomes of them and other times things like this happen. Lets all learn from this and make Better choices when alcohol is involved. Sometimes stress with the job leads people to drink, please take a cab or call and ask for a ride. Don't get behind the wheel.
There is no excuse for anyone to drive while intoxicated. There is definitely no excuse for an officer to leave the scene of an accident. Yet If understand correctly the turn of events that night it seems the fact that he was intoxicated wasn't the actual cause of the accident and that is why the sentence is lighter. Fortunately for the officer the judge did treat him just like anyone else and didn't concern himself with the medias reaction. Let's also not forget because he is an officer he will suffer consequences civilians don't. I do feel the parents bare some responsibility in the incident they let their child down by not being concerned of his where abouts at 130 in the morning and probably not providing any positive parental influence prior so he wouldn't of made the poor decision to be out doing who knows what at such an hour. Unfortunately keeping things in perspective does not sell papers. To the poster unclear about the curfew laws -13yo out at 130 is a curfew violator. Even if it wasn't a law its common sense!
Well no matter how poorly this child was monitored and opinion of how a parent is responsible for keeping an eye on their child,more importantly an adult should be responsible if drinking and either limit amount of consumption and get a ride home or stay home and drink,but the opposite argument is if the officer was not drunk he would have stuck around and perhaps avoided hitting this child,so more wrong is loss of life not the opinion of how to raise your child properly,this is seriously sad for everyone especially the life of a young man but the fact that responsibility lies severely on the less attentive driver that is Inebriated and was more afraid to stick around than concerned about the well being of another.
Anonymous said...
OT This morning the court dismissed the case against Park Ridge Police Lt. Jason Leavitt.
3/07/2012 01:16:00 AM
When is the benefit?
The Song Remains The Same said...
Anonymous said...
well Im a copper and I say he should be doing 8 years minimum.. and the two idiot coppers from 022 who made asses out of themselves on the stand and lied but blamed it on supervisors should be fired also. I have no spot in my heart for drunk drivers coppers or not. I have a very very close tragedy that involved a drunk driver so They have no love from me. Give the keys to someone else people or take a cab..its easy. I hope he thinks about it every single day he is locked up in there.
3/07/2012 12:12:00 AM
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hey Stupid, learn your districts before you start slinging shit! This did not happen in 022 and the Officers handling it were NOT from 022!
3/07/2012 01:31:00 PM
I sure was curious how anybody from 022 would have ended up over there on a call. Makes sense now.
Heard that the kid snuck out without the parents knowing...I wouldn't be alive right now if I did that at 13...
--No Cop Here
3/07/2012 08:37:00 AM
You would if they didn't know. My old man caught me ditching school one day and to this day doesn't know. We had off campus lunch so after about 10:30am kids were walking to and from the building and you couldn't tell who was who without looking at their IDs. It just so happened I took one of my old man's coats to school with his wallet and, badge, and work keys in the pockets. He came to the school to get his things out the pockets and saw we walking onto campus from another direction...but I blended in with the lunch kids so he didn't realize I'd just got there for the day. Don't give me that parents can know everything their kid is doing crap. Yours didn't.
Hey, One of our's fucked up. He made a tragic mistake. If you knew Rich you would know he's not that kind of guy. You ass-hole are the first to throw our guys under the bus and anonymously write crap about for all the world to see. When the real police were around we would admit he made a mistake, not advertise it and throw his family a fund raiser. Not a fund raiser for him but for his family. I am eternally glad I left this job when I did. You guys haven't the slightest idea of what it meant to be the real police. So keep up your bitching and go hide when the thugs come into town for Nato. They will win because the heart has been torn out of this dept because of you pukes. Stay strong Rich and Doug you are both good men.
131 pm... In this case does it really matter where they were from?? The entire statement still stands... The two coppers... Wherever they are from should be gone and this idiot should have gotten a whole lot more time.. Stop trying to deflect away from the real point here
Don't give me that parents can know everything their kid is doing crap. Yours didn't.
3/07/2012 10:57:00 PM
So your Father didn't know one time. Big deal. If your behavior was habitual, I'll bet he would have certainly made it his business to know and then configured an adjustment in your character.
My Father was clairvoyant or had a guy on the inside or wire taps or all three. Years later, I found out he knew stuff I never knew he knew. He was one smart man and getting one around him was tough to do. I still think he had to be in the CIA. I'll bet he kept me out of prison! Thanks Dad!
It's sad, what's more sad is a 13 yr. old out at 1:30 am. Where was the concerned individuals on that day?
3/07/2012 07:29:00 AM
That kid had been working as a runner for the dope tip at the school around the corner. his parents knew about it to so ..blame them also.. Ohh I forgot he was an angel.
This is over. Pointing fingers now achieves nothing. Just live and learn because if it can happen to a guy like Bolling who's a pretty decent guy not known as a drunk or a trouble-maker and it can happen to a kid that young at that time of night, nobody's immune. St. Michael please watch over all of us and the judge that had to try the case. That can't be easy in this fucking political climate.
Post a Comment
<< Home