Police dismiss second officer

University Police officials dismissed a second officer and suspended another without pay for their alleged participation in unrelated beating incidents on September 16, Victim Support Director Maureen Rush said. Officer Antonio Serrano was fired Friday after a hearing with Chief George Clisby was held earlier in the week to discuss his involvement in the alleged beating of two homeless men, Rush said. Serrano and officer Thomas McDade, who was dismissed last Wednesday, allegedly transported two homeless men to behind the Civic Center between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on September 16 -- while the officers were uniformed and on duty -- and beat them there. McDade also faces charges of recklessly endangering another person and a felony charge of aggravated assault for allegedly breaking the jaw of Drexel University alumnus Gregory Peifer outside FUBAR, also on September 16, while he was off duty. The preliminary hearing into McDade's criminal charges was postponed Tuesday until November 21, Rush said. She said the hearing was pushed back because "the prosecution wasn't ready to go on with the case." At a preliminary hearing, the prosecution presents its evidence and a judge determines whether that evidence is enough to warrant a trial. Officer Frederick Ricelli was suspended without pay for 10 days following a hearing with Clisby, which was called to discuss his alleged involvement in the FUBAR incident. Ricelli allegedly prevented Drexel alumnus Todd Weitzman from coming to Peifer's aid by pushing him several times and hitting him with a flashlight. Ricelli was working at FUBAR while off duty on the night of the incident. The District Attorney's office declined to press charges against Serrano because "they did not have a reasonable expectation of conviction" after reviewing the case, Public Safety Managing Director Thomas Seamon said last week. McDade surrendered to Southwest Detectives last Tuesday night. He was arraigned at the Philadelphia Police Headquarters Wednesday morning, at which time he posted bail. McDade remains free on bond pending the November 21 preliminary hearing. In the wake of the alleged beating incidents, the Department of Public Safety has drafted guidelines for University Police off-duty employment, Seamon said. The guidelines, which Seamon distributed to officers Thursday, will be released to the public today.