A Denver police officer’s guilty plea to a DUI charge has resulted in unintended consequences for the department, according to a TV news report.
The officer was in a car accident last year in which no one was hurt. After a breath test was administered by Thornton police, the Denver cop was arrested for drunk driving. He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year of probation and 48 hours of public service. He was also banned from driving any vehicle that doesn’t have an ignition interlock device installed – including police cars.
Denver Police Chief Robert White is apparently dismayed by the sentence because it means the officer is now stuck in an administrative desk job for two years rather than behind the wheel of a police car. A DPD spokesperson said the case might well lead to a department change in policy to deal with future similar cases.
The police officer was arrested last July 4th after a traffic accident.
When Thornton police arrived, the Denver cop was behaving in a “strange” manner, an arresting officer reported. The Denver cop claimed a “good buddy” had been driving his car at the time of the crash, though he was reportedly unable to name the friend or tell police from where they had driven.
The “good buddy” had fled the scene of the accident, the Denver cop said.
Asked for ID, the Denver officer handed over his Visa card. He later failed roadside sobriety tests and the breath test.
Because a DUI conviction can have a negative impact not only on a person’s ability to drive but their career as well, the choice of a defense attorney is critical.
Source: CBS Denver, “Denver Cop In Bizarre DUI Identifies Driver As ‘Good Buddy’,” Brian Maass, June 5, 2014