Cop Accused In Fatal DUI Crash Got No 'Professional Courtesy': Weis

A Chicago police detective accused of killing two people while driving drunk on the Dan Ryan last week was not given any "professional courtesy" from fellow officers when charges were dropped in previous traffic incidents, Police Supt. Jody Weis said Monday.

From the Tribune:

Joseph Frugoli, 41, was not administered field sobriety tests in a January 2005 crash on the Dan Ryan near 31st Street in which he rear-ended another vehicle or a January 2008 incident in which he allegedly struck a police vehicle near 39th Street while off duty. Tickets were dropped in both cases.

At a Monday press conference Weis said, "I have no reason to believe there was any professional courtesy given to him." Watch his remarks (relevant portion begins around 18 minutes in):

Frugoli, 41, crashed his SUV into a car parked along the Dan Ryan near Pilsen Friday, killing the driver, 23-year-old Andrew Cazares of Summit, and passenger Fausto Manzera, 21, of Chicago. The 18-year police veteran was charged with reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. His blood alcohol level was three times the legal limits, according to state police.

Frugoli appeared briefly in court Monday and was granted a continuation of the case until May 1, NBC Chicago reports. The appearance was a stark contrast from Sunday's hearing, when outraged friends and family of the victims caused a stir over Frugoli's $500,000. Watch:

Comments

[Cogs]

Professional courtesy is a crime and Mr. Weiss should treat it as such. Every officer involved needs to be relieved of their duties until all the facts are learned Their lack of action lead to these deaths. Investigate!

[srvblooze]

Does he really think anybody believes what he's saying?!?!?! I've lived in Chicago, and known too many cops, too long to even consider there to be any truth to what this clown is claiming.

[steamboat]

Throw him in the dungeon and throw the key away....I can't stand the sight of this 'piece of garbage'.

[VOTER]

What a bunch of garbage!
Transparent, smelly and long lasting.

Why not say:

" I don't know what happened years ago but if any
"professional courtesy" was given then, I can
guarantee you, it will not be tolerated now or in the future."

AND MEAN IT!

[ladyvader]

Jacksonville, FL is where I live.

Cops here are very corrupt and do what ever they want. A fellow officer can get pulled over with a DUI and they get nothing done to them. They will beat the snot out of "northerners" and nothing gets done. It will be well he/she resisted arrest.

[ThomasMc]

Too many cops are more corrupt than the criminals they are supposed to protect us from.

[thundermummy]

I was never one to believe the worst about the police, until I moved to Chicago. I have read story after story of police abuse and almost always is it swept under the rug. Remember the cops who turned on their lights to get around a traffic jam and struck two kids on the Southside? They said that they were chasing a suspect despite every eyewitness report to the contrary and that even then they would have been liable. Know what happened to them? I don't either.