Milwaukee police officer suspended after alleged drunk driving crash | Buting, Williams & Stilling, S.C.
On behalf of Buting, Williams & Stilling, S.C. posted in Drunk Driving on Wednesday, September 19, 2012.
In Wisconsin, as in most states, a drunk driving offense carries strict penalties. Penalties for a first-time OWI may include driver's license revocation, mandatory alcohol education or treatment, fines and even time behind bars. Sadly, a drunk driving conviction can have a lasting impact on an individual's life, and, as the number of drunk driving convictions increase, the penalties become more severe.
Police say that a Milwaukee police officer was recently suspended from work for 30 days for drunk driving despite having a minimal disciplinary record. According to police, the police officer was off duty and was involved in a crash outside of a bar. Police say that the officer's blood alcohol content was 0.21, which is greater than Wisconsin's legal limit. It is unclear whether another person or property was harmed by the car crash. According to the Journal Sentinel, 35 police officers have faced disciplinary action by the Milwaukee Police Department for drunk driving-related offenses.
Those accused of drunk driving could face considerable consequences. Therefore, the accused should be fully informed of his or her rights under Wisconsin law before admitting guilt in these types of cases. It is often wise to work with an experienced criminal defense attorney as early on in the process as possible.
Those who face driving drunk charges should know that law enforcement officers must abide by certain rules and procedures. If it is determined that an arresting officer strayed from those procedures, the accused could see reduced charges or even a complete dismissal of the case.