Richard Bolling, Chicago Police Officer, Charged with Hit-and-Run of Trenton Booker, 13, Bail Set at $2 Million

Trenton Booker, Killed by Richard Bolling in hit-and-run, Chicago Sun Times

Another senseless death of a youth in Chicago. What is equally reprehensible is that 13-year-old Trenton Booker was killed by a Chicago police officer, Richard Bolling, 39, a 17 year-veteran. Bolling has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident where a death or injury occurred and reckless homicide. He was reportedly at yukking it up at a bar not long before the crash occurred. Drinking and driving is a dangerous combination, which can lead to deadly results. Bolling bail was set at $2 million, but what is disturbing to me is that the boy's family were deliberately misled about the time of the brief hearing. It started an hour before its previously scheduled noon time slot. That certainly seems to have been a deliberate move, but I am sure there will be more fallout from that decision.

Bolling worked in a tactical narcotics unit. He was also charged with driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street and transportation of alcohol. He has been stripped of his police powers. Could someone tell me why this man was granted bail? Had that been a civilian, he or she would have been denied bond. Since he has been charged with a crime, why are haven't they released his picture? I can guarantee that this isn't the first time Richard Bolling got behind the wheel of a vehicle intoxicated.

Witnesses saw Bolling at a bar in the vicinity of 55th and Indiana before his car struck Trenton at the intersection of 81st and Ashland around 1:30 a.m. Friday, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office. He was off-duty at the time.

Patrol officers arrested Bolling a few blocks away when they noticed he was driving the wrong way on a one-way street in the 1900 block of West 82nd Street, authorities said. Inside Bolling's Dodge Charger, which sustained front-end and windshield damage, officers discovered an open bottle of beer, according to the state’s attorney’s office.

The officers saw an open bottle of beer in the car, and they conducted a field sobriety test on Bolling on the scene, she said. Daly did not have the results of the sobriety test available. Chicago police said in a statement that the officer was also cited for going the wrong way down a one-way street and transportation of alcohol. Source: Chicago Sun Times

Drunk driving is such a serious problem, but yet the punishment does not match the crime. This man should have been denied bail because he was a police officer who is there to uphold the law, not break it. He also left the scene of the accident and was driving the wrong way on another street. He could have caused another accident and quite possibly have taken another life. His actions warrant a lengthy prison sentence, which should serve as a strong deterrent to others who get behind the wheel of a vehicle inebriated. The Chicago Police Department must send a strong message to its officers who engage in such behavior that there will be zero tolerance. This is the second officer since the year started who killed innocent people due to drunk driving. You will recall that I blogged about Joseph Frugoli,, who killed two people during his DUI accident and he was a repeat offender. He had been accused of driving under the influence before and had just settled a case when he killed two innocent men. Zero tolerance is paramount.