NYPD Officer Involved In Fatal DWI Crash Fired From Force
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A New York City police officer involved in a fatal DWI crash in Brooklyn has been fired, officials say.
Nicholas Batka, 28, was arrested earlier this month on charges including manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated after authorities said his sport-utility vehicle struck four pedestrians on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, killing one of them.
The three other victims, all in their 20s, were sent to the hospital in critical condition.
Andrew Esquivel, a 21-year-old MIT student, was pronounced dead following the crash.
"That type of behavior will not be tolerated," NYPD Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said.
According to Bratton, the NYPD deals these types of cases around three times a month, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
"We treat it very seriously, as evidenced by the fact that we are taking advantage of his probationary status to fire him forthwith," Bratton said.
Two other officers who were with Batka while also off-duty prior to the crash were stripped of their guns and shields. Sources did not identify the officers.
Batka had worked in the department's Manhattan transit bureau for 1 1/2 years. He had previously been suspended following the crash.
The officers who were disciplined were not with Batka at the time of the crash, and were not involved in the crash, sources said.
They have since been reassigned.