TROY, N.Y. - A Rensselaer city police officer is facing
charges that he was driving drunk when he allegedly crashed his car into a water
tank at a construction site Wednesday night.
Chief Rick Fusco has confirmed
to NEWS10 that 42-year-old Daniel Fumarola, of Wyantskill, a 13 year veteran of the force was arrested
by Troy Police Wednesday and charged with driving while intoxicated.
Troy police patrols were called to the intersection of Pawling
Avenue and Congress Street for a reported property
damage accident around 11:20 p.m. It was discovered that a vehicle allegedly driven by Fumarola had struck a water tank within the construction area at that location.
After the accident
investigation was complete, he was arrested and charged with Aggravated
DWI, DWI and failure to submit to a field breath test.
Chief Fusco tells NEWS10 that
he has a zero tolerance policy for drunk driving and that he plans on
terminating Fumarola's employment with his force.
However as of now, he is being placed on
administrated leave for 30 days without pay. Fusco says that is all he is allowed to do, while his office and the union
negotiate.
"Police officers are enforcing the law," Chief Fusco says. "As bad as it is,
it could have been worse; he could have been killed or killed someone
else."
Fusco says Fumarola is also a
former president of the department's Police Benevolent
Association.
NEWS10 ABC
