Plainfield cop arrested in Bloomfield for drunken driving, assaulting police officer
BLOOMFIELD — An off-duty Plainfield police officer was arrested in Bloomfield early Saturday on suspicion of driving drunk and assaulting a police officer, according to Plainfield police director Martin Hellwig.
Officer Martesse Gilliam, 25, was charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated assault on an officer, obstructing the administration of law and failure to disperse, Hellwig said. He did not have further details about the incident. Bloomfield police officials did not return repeated phone calls for more information about Gilliam’s arrest.
The son of Plainfield police Lt. Michael Gilliam, Martesse Gilliam has been on the force for a little more than a year, Hellwig said, noting he had been impressed by the young man’s performance at the police academy.
Martesse Gilliam has been employed at Gilliam’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Dunellen, which is operated by his father, Hellwig said.
Martesse Gilliam has been suspended without pay until the criminal charges are resolved, Hellwig said. Reached by phone, Lt. Michael Gilliam declined to comment, except to say that his son would fight the charges in court.
For his part, Hellwig said he was upset by the news.
“I was concerned about the well-being of the Bloomfield police officer,” Hellwig said of his reaction to the arrest. “It’s certainly embarrassing for the police division.”
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19 comments:
In my opinion i agree that incidents like these are embarrassing to the police department because they should no better being an officer of the law. But i also say that police are human too and they do make mistakes. I dont think that his job should be taken away but minor punishment such as suspension for a month or work without pay should do.
QL9715
SN3559
THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF BELIEVING THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE ABOVE THE LAW. OFFICER GILLIAM HAS SERVED ONLY ONE YEAR AND THE EVIDENCE OF ABUSE AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW ORDERS ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE. NOT BECAUSE HIS FATHER IS A POLICE OFFICER MAKES HIS SON A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE FOR THAT POSITION.
OFFICER GILLIAM SHOULD BE PUNISHED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.
It is abvious that this officer though that just because his father was a Lt. he was goin to be allowed to break the law. therefore he should face the same law that he was traine to apply to others.
JE#7974
This is quite ridiculous that stuff like this is happening. Police are suppose to be here protecting the citizens and then he goes around drunk in public and driving. I can understand that police officers go through things and should find a better way to handle ones problems. He could have killed an innocent by standard.
LC9671
ID8527
I believe that Office Gilliam should be punished for his actions. We are all human and make mistakes. But the same rules that officers are getting paid to regulate are the same rules that they are breaking. And it isn't just happening every once a while. He should be embarrassed for himself because I'm pretty sure his father is and the police department as well.
I think officer Gilliam should be taught a lesson, That he's not above the law. You do the crime you pay the price simple as that doesn't matter who you are or who you know. when your wrong or at fault you should be responsible for your own action suck it up!!By that irresponsible behavior he could have injured/jeopadized not only himself but some innocent person but thank god that didn't happen.
No officer is above the law. I think the charges should stick. We are already living in a society where laws are being broken everyday. Time to set a prime example that prosecution is real and no one is excused from breaking the law.. RSI-3774
When becoming a police officer one should not consider themselves above the law. This doesn't make any sense. The whole point of being a police officer is to protect others from drink and driving not having another officer protect civilians from drunk driving.
LC9671
JN 8831
This incident is an example of an irresponsible decisions on behalf of an professional officer.Who should have know better and the consequences of his actions.
This goes to show that ALL police officers are just like everyone else. They still get arrested for doing the wrong thing. Like Drunk Driving and Assaulting a police officer. He should also face the charges just like any normal citizen, but everyone knows thats not going to happen.
- EM3583
I think this is a shame how can somone enforce the law and yet break it. We are all human and make mistakes but drunk driving is unacceptable for anyone and especially a police officer. SK
Its embrassing to the police department, he should of knew better. he should of got drunk at the house and he wouldnt have this problem. T.C. 3006
Everyone makes mistakes. I think he should be punished. I don't think he should get fired. But if it happens again then he should be let go. As a cop ur suppose to be an example of doing the right things.
I think he should get fired. Being a police officer you should just know these things, especially when you carry a weapon, thats a big no no. His job is to make people be and feel safer and all he did was endanger people with his stupid actions. LMD 7029
He is the one responsible for stopping dwi....this is really unacceptable...lb9816
Absolutely ridiculous- his punk ass should be fired- I would be really pissed off (hypothetically speaking because I don't really drink and if I did I wouldnt drive drunk)if I were arrested by this fool and then found out afterwards he had committed the same crime. SMH Add to it he's freshly on the force so he's comin in with lack of respect for the law.
Absolutely ridiculous- his punk ass should be fired- I would be highly pissed off (hypothetically speaking because I don't drink and if I did I wouldnt drive drunk)if this guy arrested me and then I found out later he was guilty of the same. Plus he's freshly on the force so hes coming in the door with a lack of respect for the law_ imagine how much more trouble he's going to get into for the next 24 years.
police are not above thr law.
swright
this guy is a rookie and already is messing up like this. he needs to get fired. he's not fit to be a cop.
s.d. 4954
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