A Richmond police officer’s DUI charge was dismissed in court four days after the charge was initiated.

According to Police Chief Roger Szewczyk at 2:30 am on November 8, 2004, Richmond police officer William Fedderly responded to a domestic disturbance call at the apartment of another Richmond police officer, Brian Quilici. Fedderly soon left the apartment without making an arrest. Fedderly remained in the area near the apartment in his patrol car after leaving the apartment. Szewczyk stated that this is common practice in areas where houses are under construction. Quilici left his apartment a short time later, got into his car and drove off.

Fedderly stopped Quilici not far from the apartment and asked him to take a sobriety test at the police station.  Quilici refused. Fedderly charged Quilici for driving under the influence but according to authorities no traffic ticket was issued. Under Illinois law refusing the breathalyzer test results in an automatic driver’s license suspension by the arrested party. Quilici paid $100 and was released.

Though originally scheduled for court on December 13, Quilici was in court just four days later on November 12 to face the judge. Quilici is represented by attorney George Kililis who claims that his client was not drunk at the time of the arrest.. Kililis contacted Schmidt requesting that the charge be dropped based on a “lack of probably cause to make the arrest.”

Schmidt asked the judge to drop the charge against Quilici and to reinstate Quilici’s driver’s license. Judge Ward Arnold agreed. Authorities say that the reason for the quick dismissal is that the charge was improper. Sobriety tests are normally administered at the place the car is pulled over. According to Schmidt the charge was “bad”.

Interviewed on Wednesday, Szewczyk said that no disciplinary action will be taken on Fedderly. Szewczyk said department procedures were followed correctly. “It is an insult if someone claims we swept this under the rug,” said Szewczyk. “We followed the procedures of our department.” Szewczyk  said that Fedderly’s record for DUI arrests in the past was beyond reproach. Asked if there was tension between the officers involved, Szewczyk said that he was not aware of any problems. “I’ve seen them work together and I’ve never seen a problem,” said Szewczyk. “I’ve not seen any animosity between them.” Quilici has been on the force for three years, Fedderly for five years.

Szewczyk said he met with Quilci and Fedderly on separate occasions this week to discuss the issue. Asked about Quilici’s record of writing DUI tickets Szewczyk said, “His reports are solid. I haven’t seen any problem in that area. If there were a problem I would address it myself with the officer.”