Animal control officer arrested

Long Beach Animal Control Officer Michael Fritze was arrested on April 9 after surrendering to investigators at the Nassau County district attorney's office. Fritze was charged with misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, animal abandonment, failure to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal and official misconduct. If sentenced, he could face up to a year in prison.

The arrest came after the Freeport Animal Shelter filed a complaint with the Long Beach Police Department when workers found a severely injured cat left in a bathroom while cleaning the facility on the morning of Feb. 15. Shelter staff found the cat bleeding from its mouth, with injuries that led workers to believe it had been struck by a car. The cat was later euthanized.

Shelter director Stephanie Cieslik said that Fritze, who could not be reached for comment, is supposed to contact her if an animal is brought in after the shelter is closed. Cieslik said that Fritze left a message on the shelter's voice mail, but did not contact her directly.

"The cat, feral or not, will have justice," Cieslik said in response to the news of Fritze's arrest. "No animal deserves to suffer."

Fritze, 24, had been on the job as an animal control officer for six months before the incident and has worked for the city since 2006. Before he was appointed an animal control officer, he worked for the city's seasonal special officers.

In a letter dated March 1 from City Manager Charles Theofan to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, which was obtained by the Herald, Theofan described Fritze's intended arrest as "a terrible mistake." He went on to write that the city and the Civil Service Employees Association "intend to stand behind this young man 100 percent," and he told Rice that the union was mobilizing county and state organizations to rally to Fritze's defense.

But another letter, dated March 11, from CSEA Labor Relations Specialist Cynthia Smalls to Rice's office, said that Theofan's statement was not true, and "This statement was put forth without the knowledge or consent of the union."

CSEA President John Mooney said that Fritze was hired over someone who was on an active Civil Service list, and was not properly trained by the Long Beach Police Department for his position. "This person was put in a position to fail from the beginning," Mooney said. "What qualifies the Long Beach Police Department in animal control training and animal control duties?"

According to a former Civil Service Commission employee who spoke to the Herald on condition of anonymity, Fritze was hired in violation of Civil Service law, since he was not on the active, mandatory eligible list that must be used to fill a position when three or more people are interested in the job.

Cieslik said she felt that Fritze was not properly trained, but was well aware of the proper procedure for handling animals after hours and had followed it on previous occasions.

Theofan said that Fritze continues to work for the city as an auxiliary police officer, but Theofan did not have any comment on his arrest or his training.

Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.