Local attorney calls Webster traffic incident the norm, not the exception

WEBSTER, N.Y. (WROC) — When Webster Police Sergeant Mike Wilder arrived on Orchard Street in the Village of Webster on April 1 for reports of a man passed out in a parked car, there was nothing about his response out of the ordinary – at first.

But after he acknowledged he knew the off-duty Rochester police officer in the driver’s seat, Wilder turned off his body-worn camera .

Webster Police Chief Dennis Kohlmeier says it was because of that and because Wilder did not check to see if the driver was drunk and did not document the incident, he placed Wilder on leave and started a disciplinary investigation.

Kohlmeier added Wilder’s action – or inaction in this case – is not common practice within the department.

But local DWI attorney Al Parisi argues this approach is common practice all over and not just between officers.

“Well, what is that PBA card? It’s a piece of paper given to them by the union. Flash it and it’ll show them that you know somebody in the police department, and what is that supposed to get you? The benefit of the doubt. It’s a question of who’s entitled to the benefit of the doubt, who/s not,” Parisi said.

Watch the body camera footage

When it comes to Wilder’s response, Parisi says he would have expected to see a field sobriety test on video, but adds officers do have some discretion.

“I’m sure the officer is going to say I didn’t even see him driving, right? Because the individual was pulled off to the side of the road and the question becomes what did you understand? Do you understand that he simply was parked here and trying to wait out or did you in fact think he was drunk and driving?” Parisi said.

The Rochester police officer who was in the car, Brian Abrams, was on leave at the time, according to RPD, and will remain on leave for now.

You can watch the body-worn camera that was recorded here .

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