By: Diane Benjamin
The Bloomington Fire Department seems to be plagued with drinking problems. This one has been kept quiet, probably because he’s a Captain.
See the previous stories here: https://blnnews.com/2019/11/04/bloomington-fireman-5-gets-off/
From the County Public Access system it appears he was picked up for DUI in February of this year:
He finally was sentenced in July:
Bozarth got off pretty cheap for a DUI – $2189.05 which includes $600 to the City of Bloomington.
PDF page 43 of the Union Contract refers to a CODE of CONDUCT: https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=19862
I can’t find it on-line, but I bet getting a DUI qualifies for disciplinary action. To date I hear there has been none.
What does that say to the other Fire Department employees?
Justice isn’t equal?
If the guys in charge like you you can get by with anything?
Does Bozarth ever drive City vehicles?
Maybe the Fire Chief should issue a Press Release so everyone knows what rules apply and to who.
First DUI is 10,000 to 16,000 cost
He got $0 bail
Bail is primarily intended to be a surety that an individual charged with a crime will show for the trial if released until then, or to a lesser extent as a prevention of continued or expanded wrongdoing during that time. Regardless of what one may think of the individual, situation, or alleged offense, the likelihood of BFD captain skipping town is next to zero, and I’m sure he would make extra efforts to keep his nose clean while this was pending, so a $0 bail seems appropriate.
No matter where you go, DUI laws are a joke. When I lived in southern WI, I saw more than a few news reports about people who had been arrested for their 10th, 20th, and even one time over 30+ arrests for DUI. Still driving without a care in the world. After a close friend of my ex-wife’s family was killed by a drunk farmer with a silage baler hanging over the oncoming lane, I have no patience for drunk drivers. Jail time, every time. No exceptions.
How much is your first DUI if you skip the lawyer and defend yourself? Not trying to stick up for the guy here but some folks do that, more can. It’s not much different to lawyer for yourself for a DUI if you’re going to plead guilty anyway. Just do a little research and getter done. That said, if you’re going to fight it or it is somehow complicated then yeah, $10-$16,000 would not surprise me and yes I would get a lawyer.
He pled guiltily
As long as Tari and Gleason are fine with their firemen getting DUI,s and the pantagraph doesn’t think we need to know and the aldermen think it’s not serious and the Fire chief doesn’t care , then who cares that really matters ? .. not the dumb taxpayers that rely on their protection and pay their salaries and pension !