A criminal charge can impact a career and a reputation, especially for those who work in law enforcement. One detective in Tennessee has been decommissioned as a result of a criminal charge he is now facing. The 51-year-old man is facing drunk driving charges and other charges after an incident at a store on a Sunday morning.
The off-duty detective was found in a convenience store parking lot in a vehicle. A concerned clerk called authorities after spotting the man. He was asleep behind the wheel of an unmarked police vehicle.
When police arrived at the store parking lot, he told them he hit the median of a parkway while taking an exit and there was damage to a tire on the car. Police also reported that he smelled of alcohol. The detective allegedly failed a field sobriety test, and he refused to take a breath test. There was also a gun spotted in the car, and it was discovered to be a department issued-pistol.
The detective faces drunk driving charges, leaving the scene of an accident and a charge for gun possession while under the influence. As a 26-year veteran of the police department, the decommissioning will impact his future advancement with the police force. Anyone arrested and facing DUI charges in Tennessee may want to consider how charges can impact their careers and which defense options may be available to help preserve their careers and reputations, while also ensuring their rights and interests are protected during criminal proceedings.
Source: wkrn.com, "Metro detective decommissioned after arrest, DUI charge", May 1, 2016