Nassau County Police Officer Pleads Guilty In Gun Menacing Case

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island police officer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Monday for pointing his loaded department-issued weapon at a bartender's head during an off-duty confrontation two years ago.

Nassau County Police Officer Richard Hefferon pleaded guilty on Monday to third-degree menacing, prosecutors said.

The incident occurred at around 5:50 a.m. on April 26, 2011.

It was captured on security video at the South Main St. Pub in Farmingdale and Hefferon was arrested in June 2011.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Despite the guilty plea, Hefferon remains on the force, according to Nassau County Deputy Inspector Kenneth Lack.

Lack said Hefferon remains on desk duty and without a weapon, pending a departmental proceeding.

Charlie Ball, the bartender threatened by Hefferon, said he would like to see the officer fired.

"He's a menace," Ball told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera. "I don't think he belongs in the police department."

Attorney Robert McDonald said his client has gone through treatment for alcoholism and regrets what happened.

The officer now helps others with alcohol problems, McDonald said.

Hefferon faces up to three months in jail when he is sentenced Oct. 3. His lawyer is not expecting his client to be jailed.

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