The drink/driving cop

[MSTRS:Me]

His blood level was apparently in the low 100's. The limit is 80.

Well....still damned either way. The 'right' outcome is "He is a drunk driver and must be made to pay just like everyone else" BUT the correct outcome should be "No-one died (in fact someone lived) because he drove. Tut tut, and we'll hear no more about it"
Glad it's not my call to decide....

[spudchucka]

Well....still damned either way. The 'right' outcome is "He is a drunk driver and must be made to pay just like everyone else" BUT the correct outcome should be "No-one died (in fact someone lived) because he drove. Tut tut, and we'll hear no more about it"
Glad it's not my call to decide....

If it was me I think I'd be taking the trial by jury option, I reckon most reasonable people would feel for the guy.

If it results in a conviction hopefully the "employer" will see reason and not sack the guy as they normally would.

[shafty]

The cop who "bagged him" is a Tosser.
The reason the political correctness has crept in is because of people with discretion, not using it.

[WINJA]

they need to throw the book at that pig and make an example of him , when i went to court one of the guys b4 me was in there for driving while disqualified , he was pulled up driving his very sick wife to hospital , the judge said no excuses you coulda taken a taxi and convicted him

[Winston001]

According to Closeup, his level was 120. Not high, not low. He was off-duty, played golf and was in the bar afterwards. Call came in about a bad crash 2km away. He waited thinking the ambo would arrive............but it didn't. So he took his Police vehicle with all of the crash rescue equipment (defribrillator, oxygen, etc) to the accident and did a good job.

Now, this man may have broken the law but the police do have a discretion in many situations to not lay a charge. Why that didn't happen here is anyones guess. I guess the only good thing is that the police heirarchy can point to this as an example of no favouritism.

Still sucks.

[shafty]

Taxi in Mokau? YEAH RIGHT

[JimO]

trust fucken winger to see reason

[Swoop]

He did the right thing, but...
On the news tonight it said they were drinking at the officers home. The media will probably move from the "he did right" chant, towards the "he shouldn't have let his mate drive in that condition" mode.

[oldrider]

Situation ethics, personal responsibility/accountability and judgement!
The Cop that tested him and charged him is a bloody zealous wanker.
(he could have handled that firmly and fairly another way entirely if he was competent and confident. IMHO)
Helen and her socialist bigots will probably give him a medal for "obeying zer rules" and not being tempted by common sense.
We can not have people who can think for themselves can we. John.

[WINJA]

According to Closeup, his level was 120. Not high, not low. He was off-duty, played golf and was in the bar afterwards. Call came in about a bad crash 2km away. He waited thinking the ambo would arrive............but it didn't. So he took his Police vehicle with all of the crash rescue equipment (defribrillator, oxygen, etc) to the accident and did a good job.

Now, this man may have broken the law but the police do have a discretion in many situations to not lay a charge. Why that didn't happen here is anyones guess. I guess the only good thing is that the police heirarchy can point to this as an example of no favouritism.

Still sucks.

HOW MANY 100S OF PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR FROM DRUNK DRIVERS, HE RISKED THE LIVES OF OTHER DRIVERS BY DRIVING AND HES A PIG AND HE SHOULD KNOW BETTER , ITS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DRUNK AND THATS THE REASON IT IS ILLEGAL, HE DOESNT DESERVE A LICENCE OR A JOB AS A COP

[nadroj]

According to Closeup, his level was 120. Not high, not low. He was off-duty, played golf and was in the bar afterwards. Call came in about a bad crash 2km away. He waited thinking the ambo would arrive............but it didn't. So he took his Police vehicle with all of the crash rescue equipment (defribrillator, oxygen, etc) to the accident and did a good job.

Now, this man may have broken the law but the police do have a discretion in many situations to not lay a charge. Why that didn't happen here is anyones guess. I guess the only good thing is that the police heirarchy can point to this as an example of no favouritism.

Still sucks.

According to locals his level was closer to 105 & he was at home after a round of golf. One of the deceased had been at his home with him having quiets and after being offered a ride home had more to drink. He then went for a pee & next thing they knew he had driven off. He got about 2km before crashing into mrs inocent. Constable Jono Erwood had medical supplies at his home (the oxygen bottles etc as their is no district nurse locally anymore) and took them to the crash scene and proceeded to provide help to the victims before the Cunstable from Waitara (40mins away) arrived. Jono was breath tested along with others & was taken back to Waitara for processing leaving the fire brigade to clean up dumbfounded as to what they had seen.

[WINJA]

Situation ethics, personal responsibility/accountability and judgement!
The Cop that tested him and charged him is a bloody zealous wanker.

OR HE WAS SHORT ON HIS QUOTA , FUNNY AYE A COP BEING A VICTIM OF THEIR OWN QUOTA , WITH THE RECENT HAPPENINGS WITH PIG QOUTAS AND LYING ABOUT IT AND BULLSHIT NONE OF THEM HAVE MY SYMPATHY ANYMORE

[willy_01]

There is some info missing here guys, someone did die in this accident infact 2 people, one of which was a good family friend. The cop in question was drinking with the guy that caused the crash, and let him head home, this i believe was the action that must be looked at as it caused the unnecessary death of a good friend. I can understand some peoples comments about the cops low level but the fact that he let his very intoxicated friend go (im sure the cop has a breath tester at home) is inexcusable. I think the change should be manslaughter.

[The_Dover]

hang the bastard.

[riffer]

Interesting case.

On the one hand ... he broke the law.

On the other hand... he saved someone's life.

And to play devil's advocate I will ask one question - if he chose to let someone else drive the police vehicle would that have been okay? By someone else, I mean a non-sworn officer in charge of the Police vehicle.

In my opinion he probably should not have driven there, but, like many others, probably thought he was under the limit.

Tough breaks. But so many others have fallen foul of the law as well, as Winja pointed out.

In the end, he should choose jury trial and will probably be found guilty, as he did break the law. Police should do the decent thing and stand by him. He won't lose his job but will get a jolly good telling off, will get a limited licence to do his job, and will learn the valuable lesson that a Police officer in a sole charge position in a small town, like a GP, plumber or other tradesman, is never really off duty.