Officer Crowley Gets Disciplined By Joliet PD

JOLIET, IL - By the end of next month, you will start to see Officer Nick Crowley back inside a city of Joliet patrol car. On Friday, city of Joliet officials revealed that Crowley will receive a 30-day unpaid suspension for his role in last summer's fracas inside his girlfriend's townhouse. During that incident, an angry Crowley fired his gun into the ceiling of their residence, awaking the sleeping couple who shared the adjacent townhouse. The couple also heard lots of screaming and thought they heard Crowley's girlfriend's head being slammed, according to last month's trial testimony.

Last month, Crowley went to trial on his two remaining criminal charges of reckless discharge of a gun. After hearing the special prosecution's evidence, Will County Judge Daniel Kennedy announced he found Crowley not guilty of the felony charges.

Months earlier, a grand jury from Will County found that there wasn't sufficient evidence to indict Crowley on two charges of domestic battery and one charge of criminal damage to property. Last July, fellow members of the Joliet Police Department arrested Crowley on a total of five criminal charges.

At last month's trial, Crowley's girlfriend, Officer Cassie Socha, testified as a reluctant prosecution witness. She testified there was never any domestic violence involving Crowley trying to hurt her that night. Earlier, the dating couple were drinking and partying all day long, driving to several Joliet and New Lenox area bars and restaurants, including Anthony's Steakhouse & Pub, by the Louis Joliet Mall, where they stayed until 3 a.m. before driving home together.

Shortly after their return to Socha's place, a heated argument ensued and Crowley pulled out his loaded handgun and he fired it into their ceiling. At the trial, Socha's rescue pit bull from Chicago was blamed for trying to bite his owner, prompting Crowley pull out the gun and threaten to kill the dog.

City of Joliet Inspector General Chris Regis told Joliet Patch on Friday morning that the Joliet Police Department's internal affairs unit has decided to impose a 30-day unpaid suspension for Crowley. The police administration determined that Crowley committed five violations of police department policies:

1. Failure to perform his duties
2. Conduct unbecoming a police officer
3. Failure to notify of a discharge of a gun
4. Failure to submit a report of a discharge of a gun
5. Displaying a firearm without reasonable cause.

Regarding the 30-day unpaid suspension, "that's the highest penalty the chief can give without having to go to the police and fire commission," Regis explained.

Regis said the city is eager to put the Crowley case behind it. Crowley was put on indefinite paid leave by chief Brian Benton last July. This spring, Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk voiced his concerns about the matter at a Joliet City Council meeting, saying that a number of residents disagreed with the chief's decision to put a police officer on paid leave without having do anything to earn his paycheck.

The city ultimately found Crowley a temporary assignment in the city clerk's office under Christa Desiderio. "She said he was an exemplary employee," Regis told Joliet Patch on Friday.

Regis also said that Crowley had been a good police officer prior to last summer's incident.

"Everybody certainly hopes he can come back to work in the future. Everybody says he's really a good cop and does a good job. When he was working in City Hall, he did a great job."

After Crowley finishes serving his month suspension, Regis said it's his understanding Crowley will return to the city's neighborhood streets, resuming his previous role as a patrol officer.

"It's time to move on," Regis said.

RELATED: Rescue Pit Bull Blamed For Crowley's Gun Discharge

RELATED: Mayor Criticizes Police Chief's Handling Of Crowley Case

Mugshot via Will County Sheriff