Athens Officer Arrested for DUI

Authorities say an Athens-Clarke police officer was arrested on a DUI charge, the second such charge for a police officer in the department this year.

[Don]

That sucks I think everyone arrested for DUI should get a salary from the State. What makes him any different from anyone else driving drunk

[Dee]

Serving the roles that they do, they should loose their jobs! Why should our tax dollars go for "paid administrative" leave..THEY BROKE THE LAW they are entrusted to UPHOLD!!!!

[Angry Black Man]

I believe that the officer should keep his job on suspended leave until he goes to trial and is proven guilty or innocent. For all we know he might of had a bad prescription drug reaction.

They should put his paycheck into a trust and if he is innocent then he should get that money but if proven guilty he should be fired and the money goes back to the tax payers

[James Benz]

Angry Black Man wrote:

I believe that the officer should keep his job on suspended leave until he goes to trial and is proven guilty or innocent. For all we know he might of had a bad prescription drug reaction.
They should put his paycheck into a trust and if he is innocent then he should get that money but if proven guilty he should be fired and the money goes back to the tax payers

Why are you so angry?
If my name was angry white man I'd be declared a racist.

You sir are a racist.

Even if it was perscription medication it's the COPS fault he drove on the medication.

Any medication that would cause these effects would be labeled such. BLAME THE OFFICER for not taking responsibility. We aren't a nanny state and we aren't going to blame anyone but the person who made the decision to drink and drive or take perscription medication and drive.

The OFFICER is at fault.
He is innocent until proven guilty. Too bad must officers don't give us the same courtesy.

[Concerned]

First, it has not been proven that he was drinking and driving. No sobiety tests were taken. Before one says he should loose his job if he is guilty of a DUI, they should think of the stress that being a police officer puts on a person. Many officers turn to drinking due to their jobs. If this is the second incident this year for Athens-Clarke County Police department, maybe they need to pay closer attention to their officers and the way they are treated. Maybe Athens-Clarke County Police department needs to be investigated as well on the treatment of their employees.

[James Benz]

Concerned wrote:

Many officers turn to drinking due to their jobs.

Are you trying to excuse their behavior because of their job? What the hell is wrong with you. Just cause they are "police officers"?
You disgust me. They are not above the law. You wouldn't excuse the stress of a doctors job for drinking, why excuse officers?

[Sandra-2cents]

James Benz wrote:

<quoted text>
Why are you so angry?
If my name was angry white man I'd be declared a racist.
You sir are a racist.
Even if it was perscription medication it's the COPS fault he drove on the medication.
Any medication that would cause these effects would be labeled such. BLAME THE OFFICER for not taking responsibility. We aren't a nanny state and we aren't going to blame anyone but the person who made the decision to drink and drive or take perscription medication and drive.
The OFFICER is at fault.
He is innocent until proven guilty. Too bad must officers don't give us the same courtesy.

You don't sound angry to me.
I don't agree with all of your comments/suggestions, but I do respect your right to say and print them.
Thank you for a different view on the situation.

[Sandra-2cents]

James Benz wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you trying to excuse their behavior because of their job? What the hell is wrong with you. Just cause they are "police officers"?
You disgust me. They are not above the law. You wouldn't excuse the stress of a doctors job for drinking, why excuse officers?

You're right I would not excuse it, however I could forgive it. Because I done that, and I've been there.
Doctors, lawyers, nurses, managers, supervisors, men/women of religion, persons from all walks of life have and has had drinking problems. They're not bad people, but sick (sometimes physically and mentally).
ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENTS.

[go dawgs]

If the policemen can't stay sober how are they supposed to expect the UGA students to behave? This is ridiculous!!! Like putting the lunatics in charge of the asylum. I never cease to be amazed at what is supposed to be the leadership of the youth in this country! Where is the sense of responsibility and decency anymore?

[Krystyna]

I LOVE YOU NAT SEE YOU WHEN I COME BY

[the sun king]

the police are human...thats all there is to say

[jon]

I live in Athens and am a former officer in a neighboring county. I know a lot of ACCPD officers and this guy has a reputation for doing the bare minimum at work, he has also been reprimanded numerous times by his supervisors for a variety of infractions. Of all the officers that work the downtown bike detail he has the lowest number of arrests. Right now in Athens there is an armed robbery in the downtown area almost every other night not to mention the HUGE drug trade that goes on in downtown and the housing projects behind it. We need proactive officers in this area not lazy officers. I once observed this officer sit in front of a bar for 45 mins waiting to write someone a ticket for having an open container. That same night a person was stabbed in a parking lot just around the corner. Sitting for 45 mins is not proactive patrolling to me.

[my name]

the sun king wrote:

the police are human...thats all there is to say

I agree. Yes it was a stupid move. we've all made the same mistake. Yes, I'm talking to you, the one that is bitching about the police officer.
I would like to think that the police officer that arrested his co-worker did exactly what he was supposed to do. He was protecting the integrity of his profession. The "thin blue line" doesn't always mean saving your buddies butt, instead it means you hold your buddy to a higher standard and arrest his butt when he embarrasses your profession.

[Brown Sugar]

jon wrote:

I live in Athens and am a former officer in a neighboring county. I know a lot of ACCPD officers and this guy has a reputation for doing the bare minimum at work, he has also been reprimanded numerous times by his supervisors for a variety of infractions. Of all the officers that work the downtown bike detail he has the lowest number of arrests. Right now in Athens there is an armed robbery in the downtown area almost every other night not to mention the HUGE drug trade that goes on in downtown and the housing projects behind it. We need proactive officers in this area not lazy officers. I once observed this officer sit in front of a bar for 45 mins waiting to write someone a ticket for having an open container. That same night a person was stabbed in a parking lot just around the corner. Sitting for 45 mins is not proactive patrolling to me.

Did you happen to know Tommy Huff, former Clarke County Sheriff, or his nephew, Donnie Epps?

[Brown Sugar]

Yessiree Bob wrote:

Tsk tsk tsk...
Typical case of those that are paid to enforce the law, pay the law no mind.

Ever heard of professional courtesy? Most officers have.....and use it from time-to-time, as necessary.

[Jimmy Hat]

Brown Sugar wrote:

<quoted text>
Did you happen to know Tommy Huff, former Clarke County Sheriff, or his nephew, Donnie Epps?

Nope. Whats funny is this guy now works in a liquor store in Athens. Hahah

[EX-Cop]

I think he should have been arrested. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. If it had been me they would have arrested me no questions asked. I have lived in Athens all my life and most of the cops here think they can just do what ever they please, And they usually do. Take a look back at the Drug Task force, I wont mention any names but several were caught and resigned do to there names & personal cell phone numbers being found in a very well known drug dealers black book. This kind of behavior that has been going on in Clarke co is no wonder most of the cops think they can just do as they please. I know alot of the cops and see them at the bars off duty, they drink and they drive home. I think a standard should be set

[Ron]

Dude, its standard practice for busted dealers to work with police as informants to catch bigger dealers. Finding the names and numbers of drug agents in a dealers house is nothing illegal or new, its how they go up the ladder to catch bigger fish.

[sam]

Concerned wrote:

First, it has not been proven that he was drinking and driving. No sobiety tests were taken. Before one says he should loose his job if he is guilty of a DUI, they should think of the stress that being a police officer puts on a person. Many officers turn to drinking due to their jobs. If this is the second incident this year for Athens-Clarke County Police department, maybe they need to pay closer attention to their officers and the way they are treated. Maybe Athens-Clarke County Police department needs to be investigated as well on the treatment of their employees.

Thats like saying someone elses job caused them to drink. I could say that all the stress from the two jobs that I work and being a full time student caused me to drink and DRIVE. Even if you are trying to make excuses and say its his job that caused him to drink....he is the one that put that key in the ignition. I have had someone close to me get a DUI and this officer should receive the same punishment, same fines, and same ordeal that the "regular" citizens have to go through. Including DUI school and the 17 week offender program.