Former police officer stands trial Monday

Former University Police Officer Thomas McDade will stand trial Monday for the alleged beating of Drexel University alumnus Gregory Peifer. McDade was charged on October 11 with felony aggravated assault and dismissed from the University Police force for the alleged September 16 beating outside FUBAR -- a nightclub located at 38th and Chestnut streets. Fraternal Order of Police President Dave Ball said yesterday that he will be attending the trial Monday and giving McDade his full support. "I expect he will be exonerated," Ball said. "Once the true facts come out, he will be declared not guilty and can be on his way to becoming a full person again. The incident will be remembered as a bad experience for both parties." At a November 21 hearing, Peifer testified that after he tried to leave FUBAR by a side door, McDade punched and kicked him while he was on the ground. Peifer suffered a broken jaw and was treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received 28 stitches. University Police Officer Phil Lyndon testified as a witness at the hearing. He said he was outside FUBAR, along with McDade and Officer Frederick Ricelli at the time of the alleged beating, and did not see McDade strike anyone. Lyndon also testified that after Peifer was pushed out the door by FUBAR bouncers, he saw Peifer charge at McDade, punching him in the side of the head and knocking his glasses off. McDade was off duty at the time. But the same evening, while McDade was uniformed and on duty, he was allegedly involved in an earlier incident. According to Managing Director of Public Safety Thomas Seamon, two homeless men told police and hospital personnel that they were beaten by McDade and Officer Antonio Serrano between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. The September 16 allegations of misconduct were not the first against McDade, Seamon said in October. He added that McDade's dismissal from the police force was in compliance with employment contracts between the University and its police officers. The contracts mandate that any officer charged with a felony is subject to immediate dismissal. Serrano was also fired after a pre-disciplinary hearing with former University Police Chief George Clisby. Ricelli was suspended without pay for 10 days following a hearing with Clisby, for his alleged involvement in the FUBAR incident.