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| Joseph Frugoli (Chicago Police booking photo) |
Posted: Saturday, 24 October 2009 1:15PM
Cop union fundraiser for officer in double fatal DUI outrages families
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CHICAGO (WBBM/STNG) - The city's top cop says a fundraiser held for a Chicago police officer charged with reckless homicide and DUI was done in poor taste.
Chicago police superintendent Jody Weis says in all his years as a law enforcement official, he has never seen anything like it.
"I understand people have friends and if friends want to help somebody out that's fine, that can be done more face to face. I do think the optics on that were bad, that is, being hosted by the FOP," Weis said.
Friends of Chicago police detective Joseph Frugoli held a fundraiser Friday night at a hall used by the Fraternal Order of Police.
Frugoli is charged with slamming into a car stalled on the Dan Ryan Expressway in April, killing two, and having a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit.
Superintendent Weis expressed his condolences to the victim's families, saying the real victims in this case are the two men who lost their lives.
A message at the Fraternal Order of Police Web site announced the benefit under the title "10-1", which is police radio code for "an officer needs assistance".
"You're invited to assist...Detective Joe Frugoli.," the message read. The event was held Friday evening at FOP Hall 1412 W. Washington Blvd. Tickets were $50 each.
The Web site does not indicate what the money will be used for, such as legal defense or other purposes.
Frugoli, 41, of the Bridgeport area, was indicted last May on two counts each of aggravated DUI, reckless homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving a death.
Frugoli was taken into custody April 10 after he drove his black Lexus into a red Dodge Intrepid that had broken down in the southbound lanes of the Ryan (I-90/94) near the 18th Street ramp, authorities said.
Tests indicated Frugoli, an 18-year-department veteran who was off duty at the time, had a blood-alcohol level about triple the legal limit of .08, sources said.
The officer was walking away from the crash scene when he was apprehended, police said.
Andrew Cazares, 23, of Summit, and Fausto Manzera, 21, of Chicago, were killed in the crash.
News of the fundraiser angered those among the victims' families.
"I am totally outraged. Had it been your family member whose life was taken by an intoxicated motorist, I hope that you would think twice about supporting this type of action," Maria Velez, one victim's mother, told Fox News Chicago.
Fausto Manzera's mother told Fox News, "I am totally outraged....Had it been your family member whose life was taken by an intoxicated motorist, I hope that you would think twice about supporting this type of action."
Frugoli has been involved in other serious wrecks, including one not far from the scene of Friday's fatal collision and another that injured two police officers.
In April, he was ordered to pay $7,100 to Joseph Cairo after a jury trial involving a 2005 accident.
In April, the Chicago Police Department released a statement saying Frugoli had been relieved of police powers. In addition to the traffic investigation being conducted by Illinois State Police, the Chicago Police Department launched a probe by its Internal Affairs Division.
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Contents of this site are Copyright 2009 by WBBM. The STNGwire contributed to this report.
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