Just Another Drunk Driver
The 911 switchboard at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Colorado lit up with multiple drivers calling in an apparently drunk driver on Interstate 25 in the vicinity of Castle Rock.
Such would normally be under the purview of the Colorado State Patrol, but sheriff's units were dispatched due to the distinct nature of the allegedly drunk driver: a Colorado State Patrol trooper -- in uniform, and driving a marked CSP patrol car. At 7:00 Monday morning.
Deputies pulled the trooper over -- and arrested him. A news helicopter from a Denver TV station captured the arrest on camera. David Dolan, 48, a 21-year CSP veteran, was taken away in handcuffs and booked into the Douglas County Detention Center, charged with DUI and, interestingly enough, "prohibited use of weapons" -- being armed with his service pistol while drunk.
"This badge has meaning," said a distressed Col. James Wolfinbarger of the Colorado State Patrol at a news conference that afternoon. "This badge represents 75 years of a strict enforcement of Colorado laws; protecting people. I'm devastated, as a chief of an organization to stand in front of you with images, seeing a member of our organization escorted in handcuffs into a [police] car."
Wolfinbarger also said thank-you to citizens who called 911 to report on the trooper, and promised to "move quickly and thoroughly through this administrative investigation." Dolan was released on bail -- and put on unpaid administrative leave by the CSP.
Contrast that with the recent arrest of the Phoenix police officer for DUI reported here.
Dolan reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .194 percent -- more than double the legal limit for drivers. His attorney says he has entered rehab; a relative said he has already spent at least some time in rehab.
Dolan's official CSP portrait:
Mug Shot Museum staffers feel oh-so-comforted by this: we all live in Colorado!
Sources: KUSA-TV Denver, Denver Post
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Most Recent Comments
Posted by Jay, Denver, Co on April 4, 2010:
They announced, after the Chief's self-serving announcement of his shame, that this trooper was assigned to the Fatality Division. Yes, if you die on the roads of Colorado, this guy investigates it, with mangled corpse, strewn body parts and blood fresh for his enjoyment.
The best part is, someone had to know this guy had problems. And no one bothered to help.
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Just to clarify, they said he was stressed from his past involvement with the Fatality team. I don't want anyone to get the idea that they've now assigned him there for punishment. As for giving him help, yes: such a job is definitely stressful -- all the more so because local citizens think maybe anyone would "enjoy" such a posting. -rc
Posted by Mike from Dallas on April 4, 2010:
Unlike the Phoenix incident, where the officer exhibited a mindset that I believe reflected the foundation laid by his superiors, I can feel some sympathy for the Colorado State Trooper. Not that it exonerates him in any way, but it's a little easier to accord someone a little sympathy when you don't have to also fight an inherent defense mechanism built into the department.
Still, at 48 years old and with 21 years on the job, he's also old enough and experienced enough to recognize his own need for help, but chose not to avail himself of that help. Sorry to disagree with the others, but the fault was not by those who failed to provide help for him. It's also possible that they did try to direct him to help and he refused to acknowledge his problems.
Now, just like the rest of us, he needs to face the consequences of his decisions. No more so, no less so.
Posted by Bob in Illinois on April 6, 2010:
Not to defend the officer's errant way, however few people can ever truly know what stress law-enforcement personal go thru. That being said it is only fair to add that there are many misconceptions about how people react to any situation. Most people think everyone should act a certain way when in reality there is no certain way to react. I've seen people who were confident, self-assured professionals in the face of diversity freeze-up and not know what they are supposed to do. And on the other hand there have been many time where someone who was considered a goof-off and never did anything right become the only one that could be counted on in an emergency. No one knows how anyone will react in any situation not even how they themselves will react till it happens and no one will always react the same way every time. We all have are breaking point, until WE recognize our need for help someone telling us isn't a guarantee that we'll seek it out. Alcohol abuse and domestic violence are very prevalent in the law-enforcement community yet no one understands why. It's hard enough for those working in the profession to keep things in perspective and to reduce the stress of the job, let alone the un-needed stress placed on them by the community to be perfect people, they are after all only human. It used to be called "professional courtesy" just to take a fellow officer home so he can sleep it off and save face but now the communities are out for blood and want to see "JUSTICE" be served. Some of it is understandable and some not. So my challenge to everyone is if you are perfect and don't make mistakes like the rest of us then cast the first stone other-wise keep it in perspective.
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Yes, there is plenty of stress in the job; that's not something they didn't know when they took the job. As for being judgmental, we all judge -- it's part of being human. And yes, we judge some people more harshly than others, sometimes fairly, other times not. Not fair: judging someone solely by their looks. We all do that sometimes, some do it all the time. Much more fair: judging people by their actions. Extremely fair: judging someone by their actions in light of their professions, like troopers who make their living arresting people for a certain behavior, and then engage in that very same behavior themselves. Acting hypocritically, especially in public, invites judgment from others. What's the surprise in seeing people comply with that invitation? -rc