Crime & Safety

Dearborn Police Officer Sentenced to Jail, Fined for Drunken Driving

Eric Anthony Krawczyk will serve five days in jail and attend substance abuse counseling for driving with a high blood-alcohol content level in April.

A former Dearborn police officer was sentenced to five days in jail and fined $350 Tuesday for a drunk driving accident that occurred in April.

Eric Anthony Krawczyk, an 18-year veteran with the Dearborn Police Department, was arrested on April 20 after allegedly hitting two vehicles and a tree while driving near Carlysle and Audette streets in Dearborn while he was off duty.

On July 10, Krawczyk pled no contest on the charge of driving with a high-blood alcohol content in front of Judge Sam Salamey in the 19th District Court. He also pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and responsible to the charge of driving without automobile insurance.

Prior to his sentencing on Tuesday, the court's probation department recommended that Salamey sentence Krawczyk to five days on the work program, however city attorney Nicole Tabin said she believed the punishment was too lenient and asked Salamey to sentence Krawczyk to 10 days in jail.

"This will be the first sentence in the 19th District Court for high blood-alcohol level content. The penalties for high BAC are more severe for a reason," Tabin said. "In this particular instance, the police report makes clear that the bad acts involved indicate that there should be more accountability."

A preliminary breath test administered at the time of his arrest showed Krawczyk's blood-alcohol level at 0.265 percent. The state’s drunk driving limit is 0.08 percent, and the “super drunk” threshold is 0.17 percent.

Martha Champine of the Police Officers Association of Michigan asked Salamey to consider sentencing Krawczyk to public service in lieu of jail time, stating that the police officer has an untarnished professional record other than the drunken driving arrest.

"The idea of jail time for Mr. Krawczyk is not appropriate at all. He is completely remorseful," Champine said.

Champine said Krawczyk was terminated from the police department and is currently seeking counseling for substance abuse.

As part of the sentencing, Salamey also ordered Krawczyk to one year probation. He will also have to pay $500 in court costs, $50 in state fees, a $75 victim's rights fee, $200 in cost recovery fees, and will attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving victim impact panel. Krawczyk must also submit to random alcohol and drug screenings as part of his probation.

"The fact that you left the scene (of an accident) strikes the court as a great deviation of what police officers are supposed to do in these types of cases. If you were involved in an accident, the least expected action would be to stop and make sure that no one is going to be left to their grief if a subsequent arrest was not made," Salamey said. "Drinking and driving and then getting involved in an accident and then another accident really sheds some unfavorable factors against you."

Krawczyk was fined $125 for driving without proper insurance. Salamey waived the fines and costs associated with the charge of failing to stop at an accident.

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad declined comment, however he confirmed that Krawczyk was dismissed from the department prior to his sentencing. Haddad said the department is currently conducting an internal investigation.

According to the Dearborn Press & Guide, Krawczyk has filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court against the city; his brother-in-law, police Lt. William Leavens; and Haddad for allegedly being passed over for a promotion to lieutenant; for allegedly being physically threatened and stalked by Leavens, whom Krawczyk accused of falsifying timecards; and for comments the chief allegedly made about Krawczyk’s weight. 

A settlement hearing is pending, however no court date has been set.


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