10132004 - Officer Brian Klonowski - Suspended - Southgate PD

Officer Brian Klonowski - Conviction for OIDV [2004]:
04252004 - Officer Brian Klonowski - Southgate PD - Arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault - Assaulted Gina Falconer - Klonowski yanked Gina out of her chair; threw Gina to the ground; restrained Gina by sitting on top of her; punched Gina in the face. It took FOUR people to pull Officer Klonowski off of Gina - who suffered a hemorrhage to her eye, a broken nose, and a broken bone abover her eye.


08082004 - Officer Brain Klonowski - Sentenced - Southgate PD - Klonowski pleaded no-contenst to an assault charge. Klonowski was placed on probation for 18 months


10132004 - Officer Brian Klonowski - Suspended from Southgate PD for 1 year. HOWEVER, in December 2004, it was discovered that since Officer Klonowski arrest for assault, he had been working in the 28th District Court.

08172016 - Officer Brian Klonowski - Appointed Police Chief Despite OIDV Conviction in 2004 - Southgate PD

09072016 - Officer Brian Klonowski - Will NOT Be Southgate PD's new police chief, due to public outrage over Klonowski's 2004 assault of Gina Falconer

On April 24, 2004, Officer Brian Klonowski yanked Gina out of her chair by her shirt....Threw her to the ground....Restrained her by sitting on top of her, and began punching her in the face....It took four people to get Officer Klonowski off of Gina...She suffered a  hemorrhage to her eye, a  broken nose and a broken bone above her eye.

On August 5, 2004, Officer Brian Klonowski pleaded no-contest to an assault charge. Klonowski was placed on probation for eighteen months.

On October 13, 2004, following his conviction, Officer Brian Klonowski was suspended from the police department for a year. 

Suspended officer working in court
By Andrea Blum
The News-Herald
December 22, 2004
http://www.thenewsherald.com/stories/122204/loc_20041222006.shtml

SOUTHGATE — A police officer serving a year's suspension from the department now has a new job at 28th District Court.

Officer Brian Klonowski, 32, who was suspended without pay in October for being convicted in an assault case, has been working in the court's drug screening department for several months.

Klonowski was arrested April 25 for punching Gina Falconer of Dearborn Heights while off duty at a party in Romulus.

According to police, Klonowski had been bothering Falconer at the party and attacked her after she threatened to hit him with a beer bottle.

He pleaded no contest to an assault charge and was sentenced to 18 months probation by 34th District Judge Brian Oakley on Aug. 5.

Klonowski also must serve 30 days on the court's work program, 60 days on a tether program and complete anger-management and alcohol counseling.

In addition, he is responsible for $2,000 in fines and court costs.

Police Chief Larry Hall said he was shocked when he learned of Klonowski's new job last week.

"You betray the public trust when you break the law, and you have to earn that back," Hall said. "One of the typical ways to do that is to be punished."

Hall said he doesn't believe it is appropriate for Klonowski to be screening people for alcohol and drug use when he was found to be drinking at the party. "It sends a mixed message as to what we try to do with officers who've done wrong," Hall said.

Court Administrator Maria Nevalo hired Klonowski in November and said the incident in Romulus had nothing to do with the decision. "This was not even a case that went through this court," Nevalo said.

She said having Klonowski working as a drug screener has benefited the court.

"It's been a hugely positive thing," she said. "He's gotten a good reception from the defendants."

Judge James Kandrevas declined to comment on the matter, citing an unrelated lawsuit he has against Hall.

City Administrator George Mans said the court is responsible for its own hiring practices.

"The city and court are two different entities," Mans said. "He's paying his debt to society by serving probation, but he's also trying to make a living."











Officer suspended after assault
By Andrea Blum
The News-Herald
PUBLISHED: October 13, 2004
http://www.thenewsherald.com/stories/101304/loc_20041013007.shtml

SOUTHGATE — The Police Department will have one less officer for the next year.

Officer Brian Klonowski was suspended for a year after pleading no contest to an assault charge.

He was arrested April 25 for punching a Dearborn Heights woman while off-duty at a party in Romulus.

Gina Falconer suffered a broken nose and a broken bone above her eye.

According to police, Klonowski punched Falconer after she threatened to hit him with a beer bottle.

He has been with the department for eight years and works as a patrolman.

After the incident, he was reassigned to desk duty and required to turn in his badge and gun.

Klonowski, 32, was charged with a misdemeanor count of aggravated assault.

He appeared before Judge Brian Oakley in 34th District Court on Aug. 5 and was sentenced to 18 months probation.

Klonowski also must serve 30 days on the court's work program, 60 days on a tether program and complete anger management and alcohol counseling.

In addition, he is responsible for $2,000 in fines and court costs.

The charge carried a maximum sentence of a year in jail and/or a $500 fine.

As a result, Klonowski also was suspended for a year beginning today without pay from the department.

"He will have no police powers and no authority to carry a handgun," Police Chief Larry Hall said. He added that Klonowski must successfully satisfy all conditions of his probation before being allowed back on the force. "Failure to do so will result in his termination," Hall said.

"I believe in holding police officers to the highest of standards.

"When an officer does something to discredit this department and the city, they are going to be dealt with in a very strict manner."

Upon returning to the force, he will be on probation for another year.

Both the union and Klonowski agreed to the terms of the suspension.












Officer's hearing delayed until June
Published: Sunday, May 23, 2004
Andrea Blum
The News-Herald
http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2004/05/23/police/20040523-archive7.txt

ROMULUS -- A Southgate police officer's day in court was pushed back a little further.

Officer Brian Klonowski is charged with aggravated assault for allegedly hitting a woman while he was off duty at a party.

His pretrial hearing was adjourned May 13 before Judge Brian Oakley in 34th District Court and rescheduled for June 3.

Klonowski, 32, faces a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault, which carries a maximum sentence of a year in jail and/or a $500 fine.

Romulus police arrested him April 25 after a Dearborn Heights woman said he punched her in the face at the party.

According to police, he allegedly struck the woman after she threatened to hit him with a beer bottle.

No weapons were involved in the incident but police said alcohol did play a role.

Klonowski has been with the department for eight years as a patrolman.

He was reassigned to desk duty until the case is resolved.









Officer held after weekend assault
Published: Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Andrea Blum
The News-Herald
http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2004/04/28/localnews/20040428-archive6.txt

SOUTHGATE -- An off-duty police officer was charged Monday with assault for allegedly punching a woman at a weekend party.

Brian Klonowski, 32, faces a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault, which carries a maximum sentence of a year in jail and/or a $500 fine.

Romulus police arrested him early Sunday after Gina Falconer, 24, of Dearborn Heights said he punched her in the face at the party.

She suffered a broken nose and a broken bone above her eye as a result of the altercation.

She was treated at Heritage Hospital in Taylor and released.

According to police, Klonowski allegedly punched Falconer after she threatened to hit him with a beer bottle.

"He said he acted out of fear that he would be struck by her with the bottle, but that is an issue of great contention by witnesses," Police Chief Larry Hall said.

Klonowski was arraigned Monday before Judge Brian Oakley in 34th District Court and released on a personal bond.

He is due back in court May 13.

Klonowski, who is single, has been with the department for eight years and works as a patrolman.

He has been reassigned to desk duty pending the outcome of the case, according to Hall, and he turned in his badge and gun.

"It's always disappointing when something like this happens," Hall said, "but we have to put the best interests of the community first."

When the case is resolved, Hall will decide on possible further discipline. He added that Klonowski hasn't faced criminal charges before.

No weapons were involved and alcohol was a factor in the incident, police said.