Drunk Driving, Car Stealing Hero Doesn’t Lose His Job as a Hero

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Kingston, NY cop Nicolas P. Kozack got drunk on St. Patrick’s Day, stole a car, wrecked into a highway sign after missing an exit, flipped the car – totaling it – and then ran away from the accident site. He was later caught hiding nearby in someone’s backyard. Initially, he was charged with DWI, leaving the scene of an accident and felony possession of stolen property.

Kozack’s, er, punishment?

A $1,000 fine, attendinga “victim’s impact” class and having to get someone to blow into the tube attached to his car for a year when he drives drunk (unless he steals another car in order to avoid that indignity).

But Kozack will not lose his $68,000+/year job as a Hero cop. He also didn’t lose his driver’s license. He’ll soon be out on “patrol” again.

Via the Daily Freeman:

Kozack pleaded guilty before Ulster town Judge Marsha Weiss in full satisfaction of the charges against him. He was then sentenced to pay a $1,000 fine, ordered to attend a victims’ impact panel, and was ordered to install an ignition interlock device on his vehicle for one year.

Kozack was given a 20-day stay in order to apply for a conditional driver’s license. His license had been surrendered to Weiss in April.

His attorney, Kevin Harp, said Kozack had waived an earlier hearing with the state Department of Motor Vehicles regarding his refusal to submit to a sobriety test after the accident.

Prior to pleading guilty, a felony possession of stolen property charge against Kozack was reduced to a misdemeanor by Ulster County Assistant District Attorney Margo Hanstein.

The stolen property charge was in relation to the vehicle Kozack was driving at the time of the crash.

“He paid restitution to the owner of the vehicle to cover all out of pocket expenses not covered by insurance,” Harp said of Kozack. He said paying the $2,470.25 in restitution was required of Kozack as part of a plea deal.

Kozack, who was off duty at the time of the crash, was suspended for 30 days without pay after a unanimous vote of the Kingston Police Commission on March 16. After the 30 days expired, Kozack remained suspended but began receiving his pay again.

1 COMMENT

  1. “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”

    Interesting that in the book, the pigs were the problem, as well.

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