Ex-Dare Deputy, busted for dope...oops

[Hockey9019]

Grayling is in Northern Mid Michigan

Former Crawford County deputy and school DARE officer William John Bonkowski III, 45, of Grayling, appears in court with his defense attorney, James Hunt of Traverse City, right.





Ex-DARE officer arraigned on pot charges

BY SHERI McWHIRTER
smcwhirter@record-eagle.com

GRAYLING -- A former Crawford County sheriff's deputy and school DARE officer appeared in a Grayling courtroom on drug charges.

William John Bonkowski III, 45, was arraigned Wednesday in 87th District Court on a felony charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He faces up to four years behind bars and a $20,000 fine, if convicted.

Defense attorney James Hunt of Traverse City declined to comment for this story, but said during the hearing that he had yet to receive copies of all the evidence against his client. He requested a copy of a search warrant prior to Bonkowski's April 1 pre-trial hearing.

Police arrested Bonkowski, of Grayling, last month as part of a roundup of a dozen suspected drug offenders in Crawford County. He was released after posting a $5,000 cash bond, court records show.

Attorney Magistrate Camarin Talarico continued Bonkowski's bond on Wednesday.

At least one local law enforcement official worried about how Bonkowski's arrest would affect his department's reputation.

"He's tagged as an ex-deputy and anytime something like this happens, it reflects on the department," said Sheriff Kirk Wakefield, Bonkowski's former boss.

Bonkowski worked as a Crawford County deputy between September 1996 and December 2006, when he retired for medical reasons. He worked first as a marine patrol officer and then as a full-time deputy, Wakefield said.

Bonkowski also served as a school liaison officer with the Crawford-Au Sable School District during his time as a deputy and was assigned to the primary and elementary schools in Grayling from 2001 to 2004, school officials said.

That assignment included teaching anti-drug lessons as part of the nation-wide DARE program.

Bonkowski has no prior criminal record.

http://www.record-eagle.com/local/lo...080094132.html

[mcsap]

Its not as bad when they are a FORMER officer.

[jmac_52]

Its not as bad when they are a FORMER officer.

But it still makes the guy look very much like a hypocrite...Do as I say, not as I do...:eek:

[Johninaustin]

Gee, I wonder where he made all his contacts? ;)

[Jay7376]

Bonkowski worked as a Crawford County deputy between September 1996 and December 2006, when he retired for medical reasons.

Hey, cut the guy a break. Maybe it was for personal medicinal use!:p

[jmac_52]

Hey, cut the guy a break. Maybe is was for personal medicinal use!:p

Yeah, like the TV show I saw (an episode of Nash Bridges) where Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong were talking about getting free drugs from a "clinic".

Cheech asked Tommy why he was there, and he answered that he was there to get his weed, for depression.
"Depression?", asked Cheech.
"Yeah, I get depressed when I can't get stoned, man", replied Tommy.

:D