If there's any sense left in the world he'd be in serious trouble and maybe fired.
I'm struggling to think of any jobs where being drunk while at work wouldn't be a firable offense.
No need to charge him... right?
Who knows? We can only imagine his fellow officers knew and were trying (rightfully or wrongfully) to show him some mercy.What could be so bad in Aurora, CO. that would prompt him to do this while on duty?
The alcoholism rate is high with LE.
I hope that if this is his case, he's reached rock bottom and asks for help.
Very, very, sad.
When I was a teen, I borrowed my dad's pickup and with a friend went out and got snot-slinging drunk. We ended up in the university dorm parking lot, haranguing the students when I saw the lights of a police car behind me. I nearly died.
When he asked me to get out of the vehicle, I collapsed on the ground. My condition was --- obvious. After a few minutes of questioning about the vehicle, where I lived and etc. I was absolutely shocked that he actually let me drive my dad's truck back home.
Different era. Different times.
Were I to do that today, I'd be in jail, my license suspended, my dad's truck impounded, a felony conviction on my record and $10,000 in fines and legal fees.
I am NOT justifying drinking and driving - but I am eternally grateful for the mercy that officer showed me that night.
I've known a couple of people who were passed out behind the wheel. They were charged with DUI regardless that the car was parked and not running. And actually convicted. So he's just as liable as anyone else for his behavior, imo.
Who knows? We can only imagine his fellow officers knew and were trying (rightfully or wrongfully) to show him some mercy.
This is what puzzles me about the situation.
Why is it seemingly ok for the police to be passed out drunk at the wheel when they prosecute people for doing exactly that?
When have police prosecuted? They do have discretion to charge or not.I take the police in that area will now not prosecute anyone found passed out at the wheel?
Well I'll tell ya, after my incident, I never got behind the wheel again in such a state again.Honestly I had an older relative in the 60's who would get hammered and then pulled over by police. They'd either take him in to sleep it off (LOL like Otis on Andy Griffith) or they'd follow him home to make sure he made it. Us kids were always told cousin Johnny is staying in a motel tonight. And you're right. Cousin Johnny would have no license, $100,000 fine, as well as some real time in the motel.
On the contrary, there was such furor over the incident that something similar happened in another town not far away and the interim police chief there fired the rookie cop as a sign of public good will.I take the police in that area will now not prosecute anyone found passed out at the wheel?
When have police prosecuted? They do have discretion to charge or not.
On the contrary, there was such furor over the incident that something similar happened in another town not far away and the interim police chief there fired the rookie cop as a sign of public good will.
Well I'll tell ya, after my incident, I never got behind the wheel again in such a state again.
But these are different times. Again, not justifying it in any way, either the officer's behavior, mine, or people like your relative.
Some cases should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No doubt, no argument.
Others? I'd hate to think we've become so litigious and legalistic that even the slightest infraction be punishable by the maximum, that no extenuating circumstances even be considered... Fwiw, in my case there were no extenuating circumstances - save perhaps my age and that I wasn't exactly a "repeat offender." Nevertheless, and for whatever the officer's reason, he was able to show me mercy.... and did.
I covered the bases on that. Police can charge or not charge. Prosecutors can prosecute or not regardless of the charge.Really, you don't think they prosecute?
How about you test that theory by going to that area and getting blackout drunk and being in the driving seat and see what happens.