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Cop passed out drunk in car, cops don't investigate

GhostOfTomJoad

By GhostOfTomJoad
in Daily Texan

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GhostOfTomJoad

GhostOfTomJoad 9,339

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Gives new meaning to "Back the Blue." On duty cop is passed out behind the wheel of his car. Cops respond w/ fire & EMS, body cam footage captures someone state "he's a little intoxicated," but the Deputy Police Chief who was on scene claimed he "didn't have enough evidence for a DUI investigation" so he "erred on the side of protecting the officer."

At the hospital a blood draw was taken and the cop's BAC was .43, more than 5X the legal limit

 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/colorado-district-attorney-incredibly-frustrated-unable-prosecute-cop/story?id=68808524

 

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GhostOfTomJoad

GhostOfTomJoad 9,339

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Hahaha...yeah, this is EXACTLY the type of report the cops would write for Joe Q Citizen:

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“However, based on the lack of information, my own observations, the fact that the car was stopped (ignition on) with no motor vehicle accident or driving observations, and the lack of any additional evidence (no other noted smells, no bloodshot watery eyes, physical impairment inconsistent with my experience with DUI), it was decided that no testing would be completed at that time,” O’Keefe wrote.

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Some of the officers who had first arrived on scene had contact with Ofc. Meier and smelled a very faint odor of a possible alcoholic beverage on his breath.  The odor did not linger and was not prevalent.  There was no evidence located in the vehicle indicating this was an incident involving alcohol.  This incident was treated as an emergency medical situation until more information could be gathered. 

https://q13fox.com/2019/12/12/colorado-officer-found-drunk-in-patrol-car-while-on-duty-keeps-job-not-charged-with-dui/

So in a nutshell:

  • cops find one of their own passed out behind the wheel of a running cop car, stopped (but not in park) in the middle of the road outside of an Air Force base
  • Firefighters chock the wheels & bust open a window to gain entry, put the car in park & turn off the ignition
  • Deputy Chief (O'Keefe) directs the officers & EMS to treat as a "medical emergency"
  • At hospital, drunk cop (Meier) has blood drawn showing BAC of .43; this is protected under HIPPA
  • Internal Affairs opens an investigation. Drunk cop immediately admits to drinking vodka while on shift. He "volunteers" and is "cooperative" so he gets away with a demotion & unpaid suspension, but keeps his job
  • Aurora DA finally gets wind of this months later, but can't prosecute due to lack of evidence
  • Case gets national coverage & heat is applied on the Deputy Chief who decides to retire

He must be a super duper cop with a sterling record for so many to go to bat for him, right?

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Meier's 2001 application to APD revealed a bit of a spotty employment past. Meier admitted to being terminated by a previous employer, receiving a formal reprimand by a previous employer, being investigated for improper conduct or illegal activities, being convicted of a misdemeanor and previously engaging in "undetected theft of goods or property."

 

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GhostOfTomJoad

GhostOfTomJoad 9,339

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In fairness to the cops, .a BAC of .43 IS a medical emergency. But it's obvious that wasn't their play, they were trying to protect their own from the get go. If he wasn't a cop, a person behind the wheel of a running vehicle in the middle of the street near an AFB would have been met by half the force with guns drawn. When he didn't obey their command & park the car/turn off the engine he would have been "combative" and "not following clear commands" & they would have lit that car up.

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bolverk

bolverk 29,694

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Firefighters chock the wheels & bust open a window to gain entry, put the car in park & turn off the ignition

Meaning he was passed out with his foot on the brake and the car was in drive. Dude is lucky he didn't roll off the road and didn't get himself or someone else killed.

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aggie08

aggie08 21,505

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O.43?!? How dare any of you besmirch this great man!

Seriously though, something like this is a fucking no-brainer homerun to rightfully punish the cop and show that, "Hey, we don't always protect our own when they engage in criminal activity." It's not a subjective "just shooting" or anything that you'd expect officers to protect each other over. Just a dumbass drunk who has no right being a police officer. And they fucking royally blew it. Again.

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Braff Zacklin

Braff Zacklin 13,627

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You idoits have no clue. Imagine that vodka in the possession of teenagers and all the reckless parties and unprotected sex (but don't dwell on it, you pedos) that would ensue! And what about their poor, underdeveloped livers!

Ofc. Meier put his life (and career) in jeopardy so that others may remain sober. He's a hero.

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Braff Zacklin

Braff Zacklin 13,627

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4 hours ago, Sbbruin said:

Yeah, the only people who can hit 0.43 and not be near death are raging alkies who grow accustomed to perpetually high BAC’s.

Yup. A similar BAC literally would kill most others ... or (more likely) they'd pass out long before they got to 0.43.

Guy obviously needs help, but he obviously should not be in law enforcement, as well, and neither should his cronies who look the other way for him.

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Cajun

Cajun 11,721

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9 minutes ago, Braff Zacklin said:

Yup. A similar BAC literally would kill most others ... or (more likely) they'd pass out long before they got to 0.43.

Guy obviously needs help, but he obviously should not be in law enforcement, as well, and neither should his cronies who look the other way for him.

And this, you folks who trot out the "most cops are good" myth, is why you are dead wrong.

If you're looking the other way for your pals while going by the book with others, you are not a "good cop".

Sorry

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bolverk

bolverk 29,694

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3 hours ago, BurntEyes said:

In most states, key in the ignition, on or not= DWI. Not sure the laws specifically in CO. MADD has run amok, but in this particular case, Thin Blue Line trumps MADD.

Had no idea. A few years ago when I was out of work and couldn't afford a new laptop and had no cable, I'd sometimes listen Longhorn games in the car in my driveway while drinking beer with no intention of actually starting the car and going somewhere.

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TwiceHorn

TwiceHorn 31,509

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28 minutes ago, bolverk said:

Had no idea. A few years ago when I was out of work and couldn't afford a new laptop and had no cable, I'd sometimes listen Longhorn games in the car in my driveway while drinking beer with no intention of actually starting the car and going somewhere.

In Texas, it requires on a public highway for open container and "operating a vehicle in a public place" for DWI.  "Public place" has been interpreted pretty expansively.  There's not a bright-line on "operating," though, but it is expansive, also.  Key in ignition is not a sine qua non.  In any event, it's a jury question and I suspect your proof that you were sitting in your driveway listening to a game would probably avoid a conviction.

Edited by TwiceHorn
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