BC cop faces drunk driving charges

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) - Battle Creek Police Chief Jackie Hampton told 24 Hour News 8 the department was expecting charges against officer William Gensch who was allegedly driving drunk and speeding when he slammed into mailboxes, signs and a curb on July 31. He now faces a felony -- which means he could lose his job as a police officer.  

William Gensch was formally charged, or arraigned, Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. There is a sign just outside of the courtroom that says all arraignments start at 1:30 p.m.

Gensch is being charged with:

• assaulting-resisting-obstructing a police officer, a 2-year felony
• driving while intoxicated, a 93-day misdemeanor
• failing to report an accident of fixtures, a 90-day misdemeanor.

Gensch was given a personal recognizance bond of $2,000. He did not go to jail.  

If Gensch is convicted of a felony, he can no longer be a police officer in the state of Michigan.

Battle Creek Police Chief Jackie Hampton said that the department was expecting the charges that came down Wednesday. Hampton said that Gensch was "doing as well as can be expected for someone facing a felony charge." Gensch was off work Wednesday but not at home when 24 Hour News 8 tried to contact him.  

"The internal process, he has dealt with that -- all the internal sanctions that come along with that and he's actually back to work as a productive employee," said Hampton. "The suspected criminal aspect of it is completely different. We certainly want to be here for support for him and his family as he deals with that process." Hampton went on to say Gensch may get a more desk type job while the felony charge is pending.  

At the time of the accident Gensch had an even drunker officer in the passenger seat. He and fellow Battle Creek officer Jennifer Appl were together when the crashes happened on West Michigan Avenue near Custer Road about 2:30 a.m. on July 31.

They had left a bar about four miles away. One 911 caller reported seeing flames coming from the car before it crashed.

But responding officers didn't arrest driver Gensch, who appeared visibly intoxicated and was aggressive towards fellow officers. A police report released later showed his blood-alcohol content (BAC) level was more than three times the legal limit.

The fact that officers on the scene did not draw blood or have Gensch perform field sobriety tests would have made it more difficult to charge him with being "super drunk," -- having a BAC of .17 or more. The penalties for being super drunk are more strict than an operating while intoxicated charge.

Two officers were disciplined because of the mishandling of that crash investigation. The responding lieutenant was demoted to sergeant without the possibility of future advancement. Gensch was suspended for 20 days without pay.

In September, the Michigan State Police were asked to look into the case.

"Being charged and being convicted are two separate issues," said Hampton. "What we're really concerned about, and I'm sure he's concerned about, is what's going on when we're finished with this. Is he being convicted of these charges? We are going to stay optimistic about that. We wish the best for him."

Hampton said no other officers are expected to be criminally charged as a result of this incident. He also said that in the 25 years he has been on the Battle Creek Police Department, he could not think of another officer who had been charged with a felony.   

Gensch will be back in court for a preliminary exam on the charges October 30.