Published: September 15, 2009 09:12 pm      

Sheriff seeking termination of deputy facing DUI charges

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Sheriff is seeking to terminate the employment of a deputy who has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to reduce speed in Washington County.

Randall Nadolski, 39, of the 3000 block of North Cobalt Lane in Scheller was involved in a one-vehicle accident on Aug. 16 on Radom Road south of the Radom curve while off duty and in his personal vehicle. The initial 911 call came in to the Jefferson County Justice Center at 3:15 a.m. on that day, but was transferred to Washington County when it was determined the accident happened in that county. Nadolski was transported to Washington County Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.

An investigation into the accident conducted by the Washington County Sheriff’s office was forwarded to Jefferson County Sheriff Roger Mulch, and effective at 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, Nadolski, a deputy captain with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office, was suspended with pay, in accordance with the union contract between the Fraternal Order of Police, the sheriff’s office and Jefferson County, according to Mulch.

“A letter of resignation was requested from Nadolski at this time,” Mulch stated. “Nadolski was advised that his failure to submit his resignation would result in the scheduling of a disciplinary investigative interview. The resignation letter was not submitted and Nadolski was noticed that the investigative interview would take place on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009.”

After the interview and review of information provided by Washington County, Nadolski received notice of his continued suspension, this time without pay.

“Nadolski was noticed that the Jefferson County Sheriff would immediately notify the Jefferson County Merit Commission and request Nadolski’s continued suspension with the change of without pay status, his demotion from deputy captain to patrol status, and his termination from employment from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office,” Mulch stated. “The Jefferson County Merit Commission was notified and will be supplied all investigative information in the very near future. Once noticed, the Merit Commission will have 30 days to set the hearing date in this matter.”

This is the third time Nadolski has been involved in an investigation following car accidents. In April 2005, Nadolski was found in the middle of a country road in the early morning hours, and when deputies responded to the scene of the incident, Nadolski was not in his vehicle, and did not answer the door to his residence when deputies followed up with a well-being check. At that time, Nadolski said he was tired and sick and although he had been at a bar earlier in the evening, was not intoxicated and alcohol played no role in the accident. Nadolski was disciplined with three days without pay.

In December 2005, Nadolski was again found slumped over the steering wheel of his personal vehicle under similar circumstances. The Illinois State Police conducted an investigation at that time and determined there were no criminal charges to be filed. Nadolski had been placed on paid leave from January 2006 until the final ISP report was issued to Mulch in March 2006.

Nadolski is scheduled to appear in Washington County Court for a first appearance on the charges on Oct. 6.