Two Grand Traverse County Deputies are fired following a three month investigation involving an accident with Traverse City Police Officer Joseph Soffredine.
Deputy Mark Noffke and Deputy Robert Sillers pleaded guilty to a 90 day misdemeanor of Neglecting or Refusing to Execute Process last week. They were placed on administrative leave after the guilty pleas but were told Thursday afternoon they were terminated from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office.
Grand Traverse County County Sheriff Tom Bensley said the investigation was complete with the Prosecutor's Office pursuing criminal charges against both deputies and felt it was appropriate to look at all of the information before making a decision.
Sherriff Bensley also said the three month investigation that was launched after Traverse City Police Officer Joseph Soffredine crashed his car on Cedar Run Rd. has been very taxing on the Sheriff's Office staff and employees. "We feel Joseph Soffredine was given preferential treatment because he was a police officer," Said Sheriff Bensley. "The officers actions are not what we or the public expects. Everyone expects fair and equitable treatment and I don't believe that happened in this case. Our decision will not please everyone but it was done in the best interest of the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office."
Last month, Police Officer Joseph Soffredine was charged with driving under the influence stemming from an incident involving a fight at the House of Doggs. He then allegedly crashed his car on Cedar Run Road. The two deputies responded to the scene and did not do a breathalyzer test on Soffredine, or give him a ticket for expired tags.
Noffke and Sillers will be sentenced in the case May 25. Officer Soffredine will also be back in court on May 25 for jury selection in his case if he does not accept a plea deal offered by the Prosecutor.
