Robert J. Parins
Encyclopedia
Judge Robert J. Parins was the president of the Green Bay Packers
, an American professional football
team, from 1982 to 1989. He is currently a reserve judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
in District 7.
The officers were originally dismissed for returning Konerak Sinthasomphone, who was a 14-year-old Laotian boy, to the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer
on May 27, 1991. Sinthasomphone was reported missing the prior day. He had escaped Dahmer and was found naked, drugged, and with anal bleeding by Nichole Childress and Sandra Smith, two young black women. The women called police and four officers showed up, two being Garish and Balcerzak. The officers threatened to arrest Childress and Smith if they persisted in trying to help Sinthasomphone or to provide information. The officers escorted Sinthasomphone back inside Dahmer's apartment where Dahmer later killed him. At the time, Dahmer was a known registered sex offender and on probation for sexually fondling Somsack Sinthasomphone (Konerak's older brother) years earlier. Sinthasomphone became Dahmer's 13th rape and murder victim.
Judge Parins was appointed to hear the case by the director of state courts because he was not from Milwaukee County. Judge Parins said, "It is shocking to one's sense of fairness," of the dismissals and Garish and Balcerzak should have been suspended for 60 days at most.
The records of conversation between dispatch, the officers, and witnesses conveyed racism and homophobia by police, which lead to bad judgment and the death of Sinthasomphone and the reason Garish and Balcerzak were fired. Despite repeated statements to police that Sinthasomphone was underage, police did not bother to investigate any available information.
. He was the teams' first full-time president and served until he retired on June 5, 1989 after being succeeded by Bob Harlan
. While Parins was president, the Packers' record was 43-61-2. Parins was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
in 1998.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, an American professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team, from 1982 to 1989. He is currently a reserve judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin serves the residents of twenty-eight counties from its two courthouses...
in District 7.
Ruling History Related to Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer
Parins in 1994 ruled police officers Joseph T. Gabrish and John A. Balcerzak reinstated because their dismissals were too harsh. Additionally, they were rewarded around $55,000 as back pay.The officers were originally dismissed for returning Konerak Sinthasomphone, who was a 14-year-old Laotian boy, to the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism...
on May 27, 1991. Sinthasomphone was reported missing the prior day. He had escaped Dahmer and was found naked, drugged, and with anal bleeding by Nichole Childress and Sandra Smith, two young black women. The women called police and four officers showed up, two being Garish and Balcerzak. The officers threatened to arrest Childress and Smith if they persisted in trying to help Sinthasomphone or to provide information. The officers escorted Sinthasomphone back inside Dahmer's apartment where Dahmer later killed him. At the time, Dahmer was a known registered sex offender and on probation for sexually fondling Somsack Sinthasomphone (Konerak's older brother) years earlier. Sinthasomphone became Dahmer's 13th rape and murder victim.
Judge Parins was appointed to hear the case by the director of state courts because he was not from Milwaukee County. Judge Parins said, "It is shocking to one's sense of fairness," of the dismissals and Garish and Balcerzak should have been suspended for 60 days at most.
The records of conversation between dispatch, the officers, and witnesses conveyed racism and homophobia by police, which lead to bad judgment and the death of Sinthasomphone and the reason Garish and Balcerzak were fired. Despite repeated statements to police that Sinthasomphone was underage, police did not bother to investigate any available information.
Packers' president
After being a vice-president in the Green Bay Packers organization, Parins was named the team's president on May 31, 1982, succeeding Dominic OlejniczakDominic Olejniczak
Dominic Olejniczak was the mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin and was president and chairman of the Board of the Green Bay Packers.Mr. Olejniczak was born on August 18, 1908 to John A. and Victoria Olejniczak in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was a lifelong resident of the city and on November 24, 1938,...
. He was the teams' first full-time president and served until he retired on June 5, 1989 after being succeeded by Bob Harlan
Bob Harlan
Robert E. "Bob" Harlan is the former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Green Bay Packers, an American professional football team. He is a graduate of Marquette University, where he was the Sports Information Director for many years...
. While Parins was president, the Packers' record was 43-61-2. Parins was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame was the first hall of fame built to honor a single professional American football team. After receiving approval from coach Vince Lombardi, William L. Brault, a Green Bay restaurateur and Packers fan, founded the Hall of Fame in 1966...
in 1998.
Tenure
During Parin's tenure, the team's most notable activities were:- The Packers made the playoffs in 1982, their first appearance since 1972.
- In 1983, coach Bart StarrBart StarrBryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
was released and replaced by Forrest GreggForrest GreggAlvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
. - The Packers built 72 private box seats in 1985, increasing their stadium's capacity to 56,926.
- Green Bay Packers Foundation was created in 1987 to distribute funds to area charities.
- The Packers increased their profit from $2 million in 1986 and to $3 million the following year.
- Forest Gregg resigned as head coach in 1988 and was replaced by Lindy InfanteLindy InfanteGelindo "Lindy" Infante is a former American college football player and assistant coach, who became an offensive coordinator and head coach in both the National Football League and the United States Football League...
.