Orange County Deputy Arrested on DUI Charges
According to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, an Orange County deputy has been arrested on DUI charges. The arrest report states that a Seminole County deputy spotted a gray Jeep failing to stay in its lane and later turning into a parking lot. The deputy approached the vehicle and said that the occupant had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his person. The defendant told the deputy he parked his car there to walk the rest of the way home because he had been drinking.
What happens when an officer is charged with DUI?
While there are no official statistics on the rates of police officers getting DUIs, we do know that they suffer from a greater risk of substance abuse than the general public due to the stress of their jobs. The same is true for first responders and firefighters who often see things that are difficult to look at. The most current research shows that officers battle alcoholism and drug addiction at 2 to 3 times the rate of the general population. This would naturally lead to a greater number of DUIs among the police population than the general public.
The fact is, it’s easy to get a DUI. You misjudge how much you drank at the restaurant and suddenly, you’re unsafe to drive. Many people rationalize the risk of driving impaired and fail to err on the side of caution. They drive in an unsafe manner, are spotted by a police officer, and are pulled over for a minor traffic infraction. That minor traffic infraction turns into a crime when the arresting officer spots an impaired driver.
When a police officer is charged with DUI, the consequences following their arrest depend heavily on the facts of their case. Are there mitigating circumstances? Are there aggravating circumstances? Did they cause an accident? Was there a child in the car at the time of their arrest? Was anyone injured or killed? Was there property damage? These are the sorts of factors that can make any DUI case worse.
For an officer, the stakes are high. Their driver’s license can be suspended which would prevent them from being on patrol if they are convicted. Any officer convicted of a felony DUI would almost certainly lose their career as a result of the conviction. They would not be allowed to carry a firearm. Hence, their career would be over.
Further, in addition to their court case, the officer will face an internal departmental investigation related to the events of their DUI and their arrest. The officer could be assigned to administrative duties (as was the case with the officer mentioned above) or be placed on temporary paid leave pending the outcome of their case.
Talk to an Orlando DUI Attorney Today
FL DUI Group represents the interests of those, including police officers, who have been charged with DUI in Florida. Call our Florida DUI defense lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense right away.
Source:
clickorlando.com/news/local/2024/07/10/orange-county-deputy-arrested-accused-of-dui/
