Incident

Incident Description

Air National Guardsman William C. Sager Jr. was gravely injured when he was pushed down a flight of stairs by Molly's Pub bar manager Jeffrey Basil. When the incident happened at Molly's, two off-duty Buffalo Police officers were there -- Adam O'Shei and Robert Eloff. Officer Eloff helped drag the unconscious Sager out of the bar after the push and handcuffed him at Basil’s request. After spending weeks in a coma at the hospital, Sager died. He was 28.

The incident occurred during a sad chapter of Buffalo history during which members of the Buffalo Police force were not only allowed to have side jobs working security for the local bars, but they were actually encouraged to do so. Despite knowing that this system created a "breakdown in the chain of command," the City's Police Commissioner felt that having visible police stationed throughout the city's bars provided an added police presence at no cost to the taxpayers.

This policy decision was longstanding, and had produced a plethora of citizen complaints from bar patrons. The practice created a conflict of interest for the off duty police, who developed an allegiance to personnel at the bars they were supposed to be policing. The result was a long list of complaints, including underage drinking, bouncers getting away with being overly aggressive, and in some cases, the off-duty police themselves using excessive force. Although the Police Commissioner acknowledged that he considered ending the program prior to May 11,2014' that suggestion was opposed by the rank and file as well as the police union, and the policy was therefore allowed to continue. After the death of William Sager, the Commissioner terminated the policy. However, the practice of off-duty Buffalo Police Officers being allowed to work security jobs on the side continues to this day.

Outcome

Officer O'Shei was suspended for his involvement in the Molly's Pub incident that led to the death of a national guardsman but did not be face any charges. Eloff pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of Donald Hall, a friend of Sager. He resigned from the force as part of the plea. Eloff was sentenced to three months in federal prison and three months of home confinement in 2016 in connection to the incident.

In 2015, William Sager Sr., the father of William Sager Jr, filed a civil suit for damages against the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Police Department, the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, Buffalo Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda, Buffalo Police Officer Robert Eloff, Buffalo Police Officer Adam O'Shei, Jeffrey Basil, Molly's Pub, the shareholders of Molly's Pub, and Independent Health. The lawsuit continues to be litigated, and is pending trial. In 2015, a friend of William Sager also filed a civil suit for damages against the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Police Department, Buffalo Police Officer Robert Eloff, Buffalo Police Officer Michael Beavers, Molly's Pub, and the shareholders of Molly's Pub. The lawsuit continues to be litigated, and is pending trial.