View Full Version : Drunks with badges
Unit Officer
09-13-2008, 17:02
I am new to the forums here so I cannot post under the cop talk threads, but I read one that was talking about a guy driving a vehicle that was used to run radar, apparently he was not actually a police officer, but it made me think of recent incidents in my home state of Kentucky. I am law enforcement, I am Federal Law Enforcement, and I believe we should all stick together, to a point. Apparently the Kentucky State Police have been having all kinds of trouble with keeping their troopers out of jail in the last couple of years. About a year ago was the summer of the drunken trooper. In one case on the 4th of July a trooper got hammered drunk, got in his old truck with no insurance, and proceded to plow into a family on the road. Shortly before or after that incident, I can't remember which, while watching the news one night a KY State Trooper, gotta use caps or they get offended, got drunk, got in his marked cruiser and drove it into a ditch wrecking it. A few months ago in Pikeville, KY an off duty state trooper was arrested outside a concert by the Pikeville PD for if I remember correctly disorderly conduct, public intox and, resisting arrest. Now I love my home state of Kentucky and I am more proud of the fact that I am from here than anything else, but this crap has got to stop. This sort of behavior by law enforcement puts a black eye on all of us and makes us all look like a bunch of hypocrits. Quite frankly this irritates me and makes me ashamed of them. At a younger age I even wanted to be a KSP Trooper, but after the way I have been treated by them, and the reputation they have developed at home I certainly want no part of them.
Cops are part of a demographic of other people. We all make mistakes. Cops are held to a high standard.
It's quite possible for us to sit here and post articles about persons from all walks of life getting into trouble over alcoholism. It's a disease that hits everyone. How many of those who develop alcohol dependency issues have as much stress in their lives as a police officer?
Even a Fed.
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/feb/06/fbi-agent-arrested-driving-drunk-tollway/
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
FBI agent arrested for driving drunk on Tollway
Lori Bailey, an FBI supervisor and former agency spokesperson, was arrested on Sunday for driving northbound in the southbound lanes on the Dallas North Tollway, causing an accident. Here's a shocker. She was drunk. Neither the FBI nor Bailey commented.
http://www.cbs46.com/news/15172539/detail.html?rss=lnta&psp=news
DEA Agent Arrested On DUI Charge
POSTED: 6:32 am EST January 30, 2008
UPDATED: 2:04 pm EST January 30, 2008
ATLANTA -- A drug enforcement agent has been charged with DUI after she was arrested last month.
Investigators said Drug Enforcement Agency agent Lori Johnson, 29, hit another driver, Darnell Baxter, Dec. 19 on Piedmont Road in Atlanta.
“I told the 911 operator she appeared to be intoxicated. She couldn't hardly walk, really, she was staggering,” Baxter said.
“How was she dressed?” asked CBS 46 reporter Tony McNary.
“Like she had been out partying or something,” Baxter answered.
Baxter said he asked Johnson for her insurance information.
“She said ‘I don't have insurance. I am in my company vehicle,’” Baxter said. “She flashed a badge at me and said whatever I mess up, the government will take care of.”
A DUI officer with the Atlanta police department conducted a field sobriety test on Johnson.
The officer wrote in his report that Johnson's speech was slurred. The report also said Johnson could not find her driver’s license.
The officer said when she stepped out of her government vehicle, he could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage. Johnson told the officer she had three or four drinks. The officer said Johnson had to use his patrol car to stand up.
The Atlanta jail would not release Johnson’s mug shot because she works as an undercover agent.
A DEA spokesman said Tuesday that the agency is aware of the incident, which is under investigation.
The spokesman would not release the agent's current status.
Copyright 2008 by cbs46.com. All rights reserved.
This would have been better suited for Cop Talk, but there is a reason you have to wait to post in there.
My brother told me about a time he was pulled over by a Sheriff's Department car on the freeway. A guy in plainclothes stumbled up to his window, reeking of alcohol. The guy yelled at my brother for a bit over some perceived injustice and finally left. My bro went to the substation to file a complaint (he'd gotten the guy's name). The Deputy behind the counter was very concerned, and was handing over forms, when he happened to ask about the ID. Upon hearing the name... the forms were pulled back, and my brother was basically told that he didn't want to go there, he'd be best off to leave it be.
Agent6-3/8
09-13-2008, 17:30
I remember the incident at Pikeville, as well as the Trooper who beat the guy up in Pike Co. Every agency has its bad apples. However, I can only say that the KSP I've came in contact have been very professional.
Don't mean to sounds like a jerk, but it sounds to me like you have a personal beef with the KSP...:headscratch:
FastDraw McGraw
09-13-2008, 17:35
Cops are part of a demographic of other people. We all make mistakes. Cops are held to a high standard.
It's quite possible for us to sit here and post articles about persons from all walks of life getting into trouble over alcoholism. It's a disease that hits everyone. How many of those who develop alcohol dependency issues have as much stress in their lives as a police officer?
Even a Fed.
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/feb/06/fbi-agent-arrested-driving-drunk-tollway/
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
FBI agent arrested for driving drunk on Tollway
http://www.cbs46.com/news/15172539/detail.html?rss=lnta&psp=news
DEA Agent Arrested On DUI Charge
POSTED: 6:32 am EST January 30, 2008
UPDATED: 2:04 pm EST January 30, 2008
This would have been better suited for Cop Talk, but there is a reason you have to wait to post in there.
It does belong in Cop Talk...... so why does he have to wait....
Fastdraw.....:wavey:
Unit Officer
09-13-2008, 17:38
I am aware that alcoholism is something that many people of all walks of life have to deal with. However, being a law enforcement officer holds us to a higher standard. If you want to get drunk to make your stress go away, I personally view it as weak. I have been doing this work for quite some time and I have actually never had a drop of alcohol in my life. It isn't a religious thing or anything, just a personal choice of mine and I have made it this long so why start now. But if you still want to deal with your problems that way then you should stay put on the couch and not put other innocent people at risk. I know for a fact, if I got drunk and drove a govt. vehicle into a ditch I would be fired and prosecuted. I know if I got drunk and hit another vehicle and put the family in the hospital I would be fired and prosecuted. I also know if I attempted to assault a police officer and resisted arrest, I would be fired and prosecuted...and I would expect nothing less if I behaved like this...I would deserve it. This is an issue of public safety and abusing the public trust. Using intoxicants to deal with your problems is just showing your weakness to deal with your problems in a productive way. If you have that bad a problem then go to a doctor and recieve the correct medication and use it as directed. If a person can't handle the stress any better than that then they are in the wrong line of work. I work with men and women in the worst pressure cooker environment imagineable, some drink some don't, but they all know if they pull a stunt like the ones mentioned previously they would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to make an example of them.
Unit Officer
09-13-2008, 17:47
I remember the incident at Pikeville, as well as the Trooper who beat the guy up in Pike Co. Every agency has its bad apples. However, I can only say that the KSP I've came in contact have been very professional.
Don't mean to sounds like a jerk, but it sounds to me like you have a personal beef with the KSP...:headscratch:
You don't sound like a jerk at all and I am not offended so don't worry, I just hold people to a high standard and myself to an even higher one. I take my position of trust very seriously and just wanted light to be shed on a subject that is often swept under the rug by KSP. I have had many, many, many, dealings with KSP, some I know personally some I didn't. But I can honestly say they have done some bad things in my presence, some felony some not. I do have a little grudge against a couple of them when they tried to run me off the road in their personal vehicle with no emergency equipment installed, let alone activated, while I was transporting inmates in a marked vehicle, this later escalated to a weapons drawn incident to see who would blink first. Their excuse was that the other deputy who was driving my marked transport vehicle supposedly changed lanes on a parkway without signaling. My response was...we didn't change lanes so we had no need to signal...so how is this an excuse. Not to mention we can't stop an inmate transport for a guy in a red chevy truck who tags our back bumper and tries to run us off the road. All said and done, that incident alone I had two troopers nailed to the wall on at least 5 felony counts each. It got swept under the rug by prosecuters and KSP. Yeah I got a little problem with their professionalism levels. The polite and professional one you meet is the exception, not the rule.
This is like the old Sat. Night Live coffee talk, here's a topic now talk amongst yourselves...I just wanted to put the idea out there.
I was at Ft. Knox for a couple of years and lived in the area for a few years after that. I got harassed by an off-duty cop one night at a club in Louisville, trying to pick a fight with me. It was a bad night.
FastDraw McGraw
09-13-2008, 17:55
You don't sound like a jerk at all and I am not offended so don't worry, I just hold people to a high standard and myself to an even higher one. I take my position of trust very seriously and just wanted light to be shed on a subject that is often swept under the rug by KSP. I have had many, many, many, dealings with KSP, some I know personally some I didn't. But I can honestly say they have done some bad things in my presence, some felony some not. I do have a little grudge against a couple of them when they tried to run me off the road in their personal vehicle with no emergency equipment installed, let alone activated, while I was transporting inmates in a marked vehicle, this later escalated to a weapons drawn incident to see who would blink first. Their excuse was that the other deputy who was driving my marked transport vehicle supposedly changed lanes on a parkway without signaling. My response was...we didn't change lanes so we had no need to signal...so how is this an excuse. Not to mention we can't stop an inmate transport for a guy in a red chevy truck who tags our back bumper and tries to run us off the road. All said and done, that incident alone I had two troopers nailed to the wall on at least 5 felony counts each. It got swept under the rug by prosecuters and KSP. Yeah I got a little problem with their professionalism levels. The polite and professional one you meet is the exception, not the rule.
This is like the old Sat. Night Live coffee talk, here's a topic now talk amongst yourselves...I just wanted to put the idea out there.
Do you have a link on the two troopers....
Ranger357
09-13-2008, 17:58
At a younger age I even wanted to be a KSP Trooper, but after the way I have been treated by them....
...one night a KY State Trooper, gotta use caps or they get offended,
Kinda blows your credibility right there.
If you want to make a case about pervasive bad behavior of an agency best leave the personal beefs out of it. I would think a Federal LEO would know that...
It does belong in Cop Talk...... so why does he have to wait....
Fastdraw.....:wavey:
Ask Eric.
I am aware that alcoholism is something that many people of all walks of life have to deal with. However, being a law enforcement officer holds us to a higher standard. If you want to get drunk to make your stress go away, I personally view it as weak. I have been doing this work for quite some time and I have actually never had a drop of alcohol in my life. It isn't a religious thing or anything, just a personal choice of mine and I have made it this long so why start now. But if you still want to deal with your problems that way then you should stay put on the couch and not put other innocent people at risk. I know for a fact, if I got drunk and drove a govt. vehicle into a ditch I would be fired and prosecuted. I know if I got drunk and hit another vehicle and put the family in the hospital I would be fired and prosecuted. I also know if I attempted to assault a police officer and resisted arrest, I would be fired and prosecuted...and I would expect nothing less if I behaved like this...I would deserve it. This is an issue of public safety and abusing the public trust. Using intoxicants to deal with your problems is just showing your weakness to deal with your problems in a productive way. If you have that bad a problem then go to a doctor and recieve the correct medication and use it as directed. If a person can't handle the stress any better than that then they are in the wrong line of work. I work with men and women in the worst pressure cooker environment imagineable, some drink some don't, but they all know if they pull a stunt like the ones mentioned previously they would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to make an example of them.
The problem here is that your picking on one Department (KSP) when such a larger sample begs for the same attention (.Gov). You may or may not actually be a FLEO, but if you are, you should know how many people do stupid **** that work there, everyday. Your not immune because of your trip to FLETC. By implying the KSP is less professional that your agency based on your sampling of news clips, you sound like an elistist prick.
You don't sound like a jerk at all and I am not offended so don't worry, I just hold people to a high standard and myself to an even higher one. I take my position of trust very seriously and just wanted light to be shed on a subject that is often swept under the rug by KSP. I have had many, many, many, dealings with KSP, some I know personally some I didn't. But I can honestly say they have done some bad things in my presence, some felony some not. I do have a little grudge against a couple of them when they tried to run me off the road in their personal vehicle with no emergency equipment installed, let alone activated, while I was transporting inmates in a marked vehicle, this later escalated to a weapons drawn incident to see who would blink first. Their excuse was that the other deputy who was driving my marked transport vehicle supposedly changed lanes on a parkway without signaling. My response was...we didn't change lanes so we had no need to signal...so how is this an excuse. Not to mention we can't stop an inmate transport for a guy in a red chevy truck who tags our back bumper and tries to run us off the road. All said and done, that incident alone I had two troopers nailed to the wall on at least 5 felony counts each. It got swept under the rug by prosecuters and KSP. Yeah I got a little problem with their professionalism levels. The polite and professional one you meet is the exception, not the rule.
You obviously have a personal hand in this, which takes even more out of your argument.
The faster you realize your ultra professional "We'd be fired and prosecuted" FLE agency is not immune to poor decision making, just like the rest of the LE world and the country in general, the better off you'll be.
I hope this gets kicked to Cop Talk where it belongs.
The obvious slant in GNG will make itself known quickly and destroy this thread quickly.
Ranger357
09-13-2008, 18:02
Ahhh you were posting while I was, the "real beef" typically does not come out until page 2 :rofl:
The popo are obligated to protect their own.
They spend a great majority of their time trying to find drunk drivers.
When they pull over an obvious drunk driver and it just so happens to be a brother police officer, most of the time they let him go.
This is common knowledge. The popos zeal to stop drunk drivers ends when it comes down to one of their own.
:upeyes:
Kinda blows your credibility right there.
If you want to make a case about pervasive bad behavior of an agency best leave the personal beefs out of it. I would think a Federal LEO would know that...
+1
Ahhh you were posting while I was, the "real beef" typically does not come out until page 2 :rofl:
+1
The popo are obligated to protect their own.
They spend a great majority of their time trying to find drunk drivers.
When they pull over an obvious drunk driver and it just so happens to be a brother police officer, most of the time they let him go.
This is common knowledge. The popos zeal to stop drunk drivers ends when it comes down to one of their own.
:upeyes:
How wrong you are.
I've lost count of how many normal folks I've stuffed into a cab with no further repercussion. The cops that don't go to jail get a phone call to the boss which is often much more damaging.
But thanks for stating your well educated and obviously unbiased opinion!
GotGlock1917
09-13-2008, 18:25
It's Lincoln's fault.
What did I do?
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wFr5PPBBpLU/RzEpUIXwxDI/AAAAAAAACEc/cXfr4UhxxcY/s1600/mn_lincoln.jpg
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