Bethlehem officials recommend police officer, charged with DUI after crash, be fired




Bethlehem officials have recommended that police officer Richard M. Hoffman, charged in August with drunken driving, be removed from his job, according to city spokesman Joseph Kelly.
Hoffman, 35, was off duty when he rolled a sport utility vehicle 3 a.m. Aug. 8 at East Broad and High streets, court records say. Hoffman's blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash was 0.16 — twice the limit at which penalties begin for most drivers, according to police.
Kelly said the city administration's internal investigation into the incident has wrapped up and a written recommendation calling for Hoffman's termination was forwarded to Bethlehem City Council.
The city must hold a hearing in order to act on the recommendation, Kelly said. Council would be in charge of scheduling a date for the hearing.
Hoffman, who remains on paid administrative leave, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Aug. 22, when he was arraigned on charges of DUI, DUI at the highest rate and careless driving.
Nuria DiLuzio, Hoffman's attorney for the criminal charges, said he's been accepted into the accelerated rehabilitative disposition program, or ARD, for first-time offenders. If successfully completed, the program would ensure the charges in the case would be erased from Hoffman's record.
DiLuzio said Hoffman will be formally sworn in for the program, which is slated to last between six months and one year, on Jan. 27.
"There was nothing unusual from his particular criminal case that would preclude him from being accepted," she said.
DiLuzio emphasized that her only involvement in the case was to guide Hoffman through what she termed a routine procedure for first-time offenders. DiLuzio is married to Mark DiLuzio, who was selected as the new police chief under incoming Mayor-elect Robert Donchez.
Wade Haubert, president of the Bethlehem police union, said he was disappointed word of the recommendation had made it to the media.
"Rick's due-process rights have been violated," Haubert said. "He's already being convicted in the public eye without being given the opportunity to provide any type of defense."
Quintes Taglioli, the attorney representing the Bethlehem Fraternal Order of Police, said the union will support Hoffman and fight any attempt to have him terminated.
"At this point, we're waiting on city council," Taglioli said. "They haven't taken any action yet."
Taglioli said word of the recommendation reached Hoffman on Dec. 20, but the city cannot fire the officer without a hearing and a final decision by council.
Haubert said Hoffman does not plan on stepping down.
"Rick Hoffman is not going to resign, so I guess the termination process is going to move forward," Haubert said. "We take issue with the investigation, the scope of it, and some of the allegations that are made within it."
Haubert said he was doubly disappointed that Chief Craig Finnerty made the recommendation for termination, but was not present to deliver the news to Hoffman.
"Have the decency to look the guy in the eye," Haubert said. "That appalled me."
Finnerty did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Bethlehem City Councilman J. William Reynolds said he'd have to reserve judgment in the case until a hearing is complete, something he said he hopes gets underway as soon as possible. But Reynolds said the recommendation itself is concerning.
"Several things over several years have led the administration to come to this recommendation," Reynolds said. "City council does not tolerate behavior we believe is below the high standards set by the police department."