It is very rare that Maryland residents learn that a high-ranking police
officer was arrested, but it does happen. This appears to be the case
after an incident in which a Maryland police chief, who previously worked
as a state trooper, was arrested in a traffic stop. Now, the police chief
is facing DUI charges and other traffic related offenses.
The arrest reportedly happened on a recent Sunday night in Princess Anne.
He was apparently pulled over for a routine traffic stop and during that
time, he was believed to be under the influence. He was arrested and charged
with both driving under the influence and driving while intoxicated. He
was also charged with following too closely.
According to a statement, the police chief was traveling in his own personal
vehicle and was off duty at the time of the arrest. He was also not dressed
in police uniform and he was not armed. In addition to his charges, he
was also put on administrative leave per request of the defendant. No
other details about this case have been reported.
Although the officer may have over 20 years of affiliation with the police
department, a DUI charge is a serious allegation. A DUI conviction can
result in legal penalties including the forfeiture of his badge and some
time behind bars. While the potential consequences are severe, Maryland
prosecutors need to prove that the police chief was intoxicated while
driving in order to obtain a conviction. Defendants who are arrested for
DUI charges can sometimes substantially reduce their criminal charges
by gaining a full understanding of their legal rights as a case proceeds.
Source: CBS Washington, "Police Chief in Maryland Charged With DUI", , June 30, 2014