Police Officers Defending Their Own, Part Deux

A Chicago law enforcement officer with a history of suspicious traffic accidents drives drunk and plows into a parked vehicle, killing two young men.  His cop buddies throw a fundraiser - not for the victims, but for the cop who caused the deadly crash.  

From WGN9News:  Chicago police officers are planning a benefit at their union headquarters for Joseph Frugoli, who is accused of crashing into a car while driving drunk, killing two people.  An invitation to the event is posted on the Web site of the Fraternal Order of Police...  "You're invited to assist Detective Joe Frugoli," the posting reads. Tickets cost $50.  A detective lists his name and phone number for further information.  Police said Frugoli's blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit when his Lexus SUV struck a car that had pulled over on the Dan Ryan Expressway north of 18th Street.  The car exploded into flames and killed Andrew Cazares, 23, and Fausto Manzera, 21.  Frugoli is also accused of leaving the scene.

From WBBM:  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... Frugoli has been involved in other serious wrecks, including one not far from the scene of Friday's fatal collision...  (Frugoli was released on bail almost immedeately.  What do you suppose would happen if you or I were driving drunk and slammed into a cop car, killing two officers?  We would be put UNDER that jailhouse.)

Allowing this fundraiser to be held at union headquarters makes it appear like the "Fraternal Order of Police" views Frugoli as the victim.  Frugoli's lawyer even called the incident "a tragedy for three families."  Many of the posters on that 9News story were appalled at the idea of an F.O.P. sanctioned benefit - but then there were comments like these:

'This guy has his own cross to bare and mounting legal bills to pay.  His friends are trying to help him, leave them alone but don't make this a cop issue, he was off duty and had an accident.'  (An accident is falling off a bicycle.  This was a crime.  It became a "cop issue" when the "Fraternal Order" rallied behind this killer.)

A Chicago police officer named "James" writes:  'So what we decide to do when we are not working is none of your business so keep out of it.  Last time I checked benefit parties are not illegal.  (Benefit parties?  Like with music and booze and designated drivers?)  And like a previous poster states, if you want to raise money for the dead people go right ahead but I am not contributing because I did not know them.  But I know Joe.  ("Raise money for the dead people?"  How compassionate.)

'Nobody would ever tell a plumber how to run pipes, an electrician how to wire their house, a carpenter how to build a house, or a firefighter how to put out a fire.  But, everybody thinks they can tell a police officer how to do their job.'  (Apparently someone needs to.) 

Do you remember the Chicago cop who served no jail time after he beat three people in a drunken rage?  One of his victims was a woman, and it was all caught on tape.  The Fraternal Order of Police rushed to his defense, as well.  This organization gives law enforcement a bad name.