People ex rel. Sayre v. McClave

The relator was tried upon the charge that he became so much intoxicated as to be unfit for duty, when he was detailed for service at the twentieth election district of the eighth assembly district. The charge was not only proved to be true, but it was conceded to be so by the relator.

The preceding evening he had been on duty at a meeting held at the Cooper Institute Building. During that night he slept but little, and took what he stated to have been a whisky sour, before trying to eat his breakfast, and another afterwards, which produced his intoxication. It was proved that he had previously been injured, which may have rendered him more susceptible than he otherwise would have been to the effects of spirituous stimulants.

But if that was his condition, it should have impressed him with the conviction that he could not safely make use of the stimulant which he took. It was a circumstance which, if it had been heeded by him, would have led him to abstain from what he had reason to know he could» not indulge in the use of with safety to himself and his position on the force. He voluntarily failed to avoid his danger, and under the authority of the law must suffer the consequence following that failure. People v. French, 110 N. Y., 494 ; 18 N. Y. State Rep., 231;. People v. Same, 30 id., 72.

It has been assumed by the relator’s counsel that so wide a departure from the rule maintained by these cases took place in the decision of People v. French,decided by the same court in March last, as to relieve him from this adverse action of the commissioners. But the difference in the cases was considered to arise out of materially distinguishing facts and not in the law. That still remains as it was pronounced in the first of these authorities and it sustains the action of the commissioners.

As the relator had been a faithful officer of the police force this action may be considered severe for a first substantial breach of discipline by him. But whether it should be or not was for the commissioners to judge. • And this court is not permittéd to interfere with that judgment. The order of the commissioners should, therefore, be affirmed.

Although in my opinion the severe punishment inflicted upon the relator was entirely undeserved and far exceeds any proper punishment for his offense, I do not see how we can interfere. He had been guilty of a breach of discipline and the amount of punishment to be inflicted therefor was entirely discretionary with the commissioners.

Brady, J., concurs.