When someone has consumed too much alcohol and decides to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, that person’s intoxication creates serious risks
to others on the road. Headlines throughout the country are filled with instances of intoxicated drivers who have injured or even killed others on the road. Officers around the country have attempted to step up patrols and DWI checkpoints to deter these people from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle; however, instances of injuries and death are still prevalent. The public relies on law enforcement to protect the roads; however, what if the intoxicated driver is the police officer?
A Fort Worth, Texas police chief has decided that he has had enough with officers on his force drinking and driving. This came about after two officers were arrested for DWI over the past few weeks. For officer DWI infractions, the procedure is that the police chief reviews each case individually, waits on the case to be resolved by the court system, and then decides what the punishment for the officer will be through the police force. However, due to recent officer arrests, the chief has announced that if any officer is charged with DWI, he or she will be terminated on the spot. The chief states that officers are supposed to be an example, and if they are being charged with DWI’s, they are setting a bad example.
