From Bill Lindelof:
A Cal Expo police officer was sentenced today to 200 hours of community service for falsely claiming he earned a Silver Star for gallantry in combat during the 1991 Persian Gulf war.
Eric Gene Piotrowski, who was charged under the Stolen Valor Act, was also sentenced in federal court to 12 months' probation.
Piotrowski, 41, must perform the community service at a veteran's hospital. U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows said that such service will give Piotrowski a chance to learn from his mistakes.
Piotrowski was also ordered to give up his state peace officer's certification and is under a lifetime ban from law enforcement employment.
The Marine veteran bought the medal via the Internet in 2007. Piotrowski did not see military action in Operation Desert Storm.
He told family and friends he received the medal and certificate in the mail after requesting a copy of his military records, according to an affidavit.
Without his knowledge, Piotrowski's family arranged for California Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary Roger Brautigan to come to his Elk Grove home in 2007 and formally present the medal to him.
News of the presentation later appeared on the cover of the department's newsletter, and skeptical veterans urged the FBI to investigate.
The Silver Star is the nation's third highest military decoration.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.