Nazareth police officer Randall Pompei, 38, has been charged by Emmaus police with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of 0.16 or higher. The charges, filed March 24, are the result of a vehicle stop on St. Patrick's Day.
Pompei has been a full-time police officer in Nazareth since 2016 and may also be employed part-time in Palmer Tp. He has also worked for Nazareth Ambulance Corps.
From what I have been told by other officers, Pompei was uncooperative and arrogant when stopped. That may just be an indication he was intoxicated.
Most people, even police officers, are permitted to apply for ARD (accelerated rehabilitative disposition) for a first offense DUI.
I have no respect for Pompei's anti-union attitude and believe he was hired precisely because he's a union buster. But I do believe he's entitled to the same break that should be afforded to anyone. If this were a second offense, he'd have to be cut loose. Let me share this story about Pompei from 2015, when he was still part-time:
"In the winter months of 2015 Officer Pompei and two Officers from the Upper Nazareth Township Police Department were summoned to a residence off of Liberty St. for a report of a male sleeping in his vehicle. Upon Officers making contact with the male, Officers were advised that the male was homeless and had nowhere to go. Officer Pompei and the Officers from the UNTPD quickly jumped into action to help the male in any way they could. It was a very cold evening and the Officers were concerned for the male’s safety. Officers made numerous phone calls and gave a relentless effort in contacting multiple Shelters in an attempt to find the male a place to go before finally finding shelter for the male at the Allentown Rescue Mission. Upon doing so and after speaking with the male it was discovered that the male had little to no gas in his vehicle and had not eaten for some time. Officer Pompei and the two Officers from the UNTPD escorted the male to 7-11 in Upper Nazareth Township and filled his tank with gas and purchased approximately $50.00 in food and beverages. One of the Officers from the UNTPD also purchased the male a $20.00 gift card from the Giant Food Store in Lower Nazareth to be utilized at a later date. On this day all three Officers showed a generous act of kindness to this man in need, and showed what our fine Officers In the Nazareth area are all about."
A guy like that deserves a break.
38 comments:
"I have no respect for Pompei's anti-union attitude"
is there a paragraph missing, or did i miss something?
You did not miss anything. I just did not go into detail.
I fully support our law enforcement professionals at a time like this. It’s never a good idea to call down someone you’ve never met. Compassion is the way to go, particularly when everyone is so confused by what they read these days. The panic being induced is far greater than necessary. People are looking for some, even brief, escape.
Worst thing, he isn't even Irish.
I'm absolutely for giving second chances, but ".16 or higher?" That's really high. And your careful wording doesn't tell us how much higher. What exactly was it? .11 or .12 are somewhat understandable. Double the legal limit - or higher - is troubling.
Hat tip to Emmaus PD for acting professionally, where Slate Belt Regional showed extraordinarily unprofessional conduct when faced with a similar situation. Emmaus PD kept citizens safe that night. SBRPD did not. Emmaus is the good cop story here.
I do not know how much higher. I just know it justified the highest charge that can be filed for .16 or higher.
Is this perpetual drunk and jerk going to be allowed to remain on the Drug Task Force.
Good question. I would give him a break for his job, but he should have no role in any drug task force
Another hatchet job on a LEO. How come you don't report on all the drunk drivers in the Lehigh Valley asswipe? Typical wannabe reporter. Hey here's an idea, why don't you write a cover story on the tragedy called "your life" and those that you stole from, misled or otherwise screwed over. There is no doubt in my mind that even if a LEO were to speak with you they would do so with extreme caution. Believe me you are not any LEO's favorite person.
Hey 8:46, this IS the story of O'hareball's life. Drunk screws up his job, and his life and reputation; but once did something nice, too. So we should cut him a break. Get it?
Disagree. I'm a LEO, act honorably, and love Bernie's reporting.
I have an immense amount of respect for most police officers. They tend to be unflinchingly honest and believe in honor and duty. I do not report on everyone who gets charged with DUI. But when a cop gets charged with a DUI, it must be reported. It does not mean he's a bad guy. In fact, I said Pompeoi deserves a break. But he is paid to enforce the law, not break it. This is newsworthy. This is a wake-up call for him.
"Believe me you are not any LEO's favorite person."
Criminal Defendant Tricia Mezzacappa, you should be preparing your defense for lying to PSP.
Why would you write such a thing and yet not go into detail? Just curious
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's day!
I have dealt with officer Pompei on several occasions which weren’t always the best times of my life. I can say although he did his job which wasn’t always in my best interest, he treated me fair and like a person unlike many of the other cops in this area. Both officer Pompei and officer paluscio are good cops who realize that people make mistakes and not every person needs to be treated like a criminal or arrested. It is obvious officer Pompei made an error in judgement By doing what he did, I just hope people understand he is a person too, and treat him the same way he has treated me and my family members.
"Another hatchet job on a LEO."
I disagree. Although, the hidden lede in this piece is the solid, professional performance by Emmaus PD. This is a good cop story about keeping us and our families safe from dangerous drunks.
"Why would you write such a thing and yet not go into detail? Just curious"
It is important that the reader know I have reservations about Pompei's anti-union bias so that my sentiment that he deserves a break is not dismissed as some kind of pro-cop bias.
FACT: He's a police officer sworn to uphold the laws and not a do as I say not as I do... Real tough guy and some real tough guy supporters here in the comments... walk the blue line...
"This is a good story about keeping us and our families safe from dangerous drunks"
Just curious 10:26 are you not concerned about the civilian drunk drivers that most certainly would put your family in the same danger? Im not following your logic. The point remains that it's a LEO and once again they are chastised and denigrated because they made a mistake within their chosen profession. Everybody makes mistakes but to sensationalize a story because of who that person is or what their profession happens to be is clearly wrong, O'Hare of all people knows this. Print all the DUI's in the Lehigh Valley during the same time period and I would have no argument, but that's not the case.
I'm all for second chances. Just not doctors, police, emt's and persons directly responsible for the lives of others. He can get ARD but find another career. Not fair to risk a future life on someone who is suffers the disease of alcoholism. Liberals and recovery people can't have the argument both ways-he's an addict for life or he's cured of alcoholism.
Being a police officer I believe his dui number is lower like bus drivers, etc. He should be given a chance for the ARD route.
12:37 PM
Wrong.
ARD. My concern is his behavior toward Emmaus PD.
6:46 am (Pompei is as Irish as Sam Murray=Lebanese Fraud)
In all cases large and small my favorite Judge of all time is Frank Caprio.
@1:16pm: A little early to be hitting the sauce, Trish? When you are convicted, the Judge most likely will require you to a D/A evaluation, treatment and abstinence, since clearly, as documented on the Police Report that your were "getting out of your car" after "returning home for the night" and the Officer noted that you appeared intoxicated.
You, Trish, should have been charged, too, with a DUI.
1:16pm is not the grand dame of the 9_12 party aka the Ridge St Stunner its Bob Ryan of KDDI America who might actually be a really good fit for the dish. Mario, the Silver Fox and Mediterranean Manslsb never really gelled with Yosemite Samantha largely because I believe they are all teetotalers but Ryan is a fifth of vodka a day type drunk who loves trolling Bernixe in a blackout.
Both are Jersey strong roughly the same age, make it happen Bob!
Trish: you posted earlier that you recently scored a nursing job. Let me guess, Attorney Waldron told you that the judge might not incarcerate you if you're employed full time in a constructive job?
Tough guy? Who?
Like a CDL holder?
Of the the officers I've encountered in Nazareth, Randy has always been kind and respectful. We all make poor choices in life, hopefully he learns his lesson. #ServeandProtect not #DrinkandDrive
God Bless Trish for using her medical skills to help in this crises. As opposed to those who just bitch from the sidelines and cast stones.
Really, Trish? I might have given you props for jumping in during this pandemic had you not lobbed yet another racist insult at Judge Murray yesterday. But hey, Harvey Weinstein produced some really good movies, so God bless him.
If you drink in your glass house, don't throw stones, or on your case rocks, and expect people to give you a "get out of jail free" card.
Nazareth has made many, many, poor choices over the years regarding the hiring of police officers and chiefs. Hope they get better at it.
Not Dees, Mezzacoocoo. Try again.
does this negate the one he yanked me for? hypocrite.
No, lol. He was cited just as you were. It is much easier to get cited for DUI now than it was in my drinking days. This has probably saved lives.
So this guys still on the drug task force and when searching for this arrest I have been unable to find anything on it. Now from my understanding roughly it’s 9 months after this happened that wouldn’t not be enough time lapse for him to have gone to court. Gotten ard, completed ard and had these charges expunged… also did this officer have 30 or 60 days of a license suspension and if so when did that take place? There are a lot of questions with this that I can’t seem to find answers to due to it not appearing anywhere on the internet
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