Cop accused in hit-and-run retires, collects pension

The Nassau officer accused of causing a hit-and-run crash in his unmarked police car after drinking on duty has retired and will begin collecting his pension, the department confirmed.

Det. Sgt. William Kaul was initially suspended without pay, after, police say, he fled the scene of the Jan. 2 crash, disobeyed his superior officers and parked the damaged police car in the precinct parking lot before driving home to Scarsdale.

Kaul, 48, a Sixth Precinct officer at the time of the crash, had 22 years on the job. He was allowed to return to work briefly with administrative duties because New York State's civil service law allows a government employee to be suspended for a maximum of 30 days unless there is a hearing and determination about the misconduct. His retirement was effective March 26, and means he will not face internal charges.

The man whose car Kaul allegedly plowed into in North Hills, John Sullivan of Garden City, has filed a notice of claim with the government indicating plans to sue Nassau County for "severe and permanent personal injuries."

In criminal court, Kaul is facing misdemeanor charges that include leaving the scene of an accident, official misconduct and obstructing governmental administration.

When officers went to his Westchester home early on Jan. 3 he showed no signs of intoxication, police said, and was not charged with drunken driving.

Kaul's attorney, Robert Brunetti of Mineola, did not return a call seeking comment, but has said Kaul pleaded not guilty and expects to be exonerated.

Sworn statements attached to the criminal complaint against Kaul, given by bartenders at TR's Great American in Williston Park and Edison's Ale House in Manhasset, say that Kaul was drinking beers at those pubs before the crash. The complaint alleges that he was on duty while in the bars.

It was 9:13 p.m., a short time after reportedly leaving TR's, that Kaul rear-ended Sullivan's Chrysler convertible, which had been disabled on the side of the road with its hazard lights on, near New Hyde Park Road on the Long Island Expressway north service road, authorities said. The impact sent the car onto the sidewalk and into a tree and left Sullivan with back, neck and leg injuries.

According to a criminal court filing, about 15 minutes after the accident, Kaul called a precinct lieutenant, said he was "on his way home" and that he put the damaged police car at the Sixth Precinct station house.

The filing says Kaul told the lieutenant he was involved in an accident, that he didn't know the location, that he had been at TR's and that he wouldn't "take a test."