Politics helped troubled officer get hired, avoid being fired

[Swede]

After he became an officer, Kelley was disciplined 10 times -- including four suspensions for a total of 57 days without pay -- according to federal court records. He was also ordered to attend counseling for alcohol abuse and anger management.

In July 2006, he was reprimanded for entering the police cellblock, while off-duty, and offering an alcoholic drink to a female prisoner.

In November 2007, he was suspended for 21 days after admitting that he slapped his wife after drinking too much.

In July 2009, Kelley was suspended for 30 days for sick time abuse and for trying to pick a bar fight with a fellow officer who had reported the incident involving Kelley's wife to a lieutenant.

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article208652.ece

[Cirque du So-What]

1. When will municipalities ever learn?

Is it sofa king hard to find & retain qualified police officers instead of keeping borderline psychopaths on the force? Isn't the possibility that one of these criminals-with-a badge will end up costing the city/county/state megabucks in a lawsuit sufficient to make them consider that maintaining a mad dog on a very long leash is not the epitome of prudent decisionmaking? Not likely to change, however, and I cite a very wise man who told me long ago, 'them dumb fuckers never learn!'

[TexasObserver]

2. I'm surprised insurers haven't made this guy impossible to hire.

Governmental units who hire known miscreants for police work are asking for a civil suit spanking, and some will get it.