News has spread throughout New Jersey concerning a state trooper who was arrested and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol. The 28-year veteran was also removed from duty upon his arrest. As the matter moves through the courts, readers should refrain from making presumptions of guilt. Drunk driving is a very serious issue, but not every person who is charged will be convicted in court.
In this case, the trooper was involved in a traffic accident after leaving a construction site where he had been working. He was completing "supplemental duty" on the work site. He is alleged to have rear-ended an Audi on the Garden State Parkway, which is in the Monmouth service area. The accident took place around 2 in the afternoon on a Monday. The trooper was driving his patrol vehicle at the time of the accident.
The accident did not result in significant damage to either vehicle, and neither driver sustained injuries. The trooper submitted to on-site breath analysis, but the results have not been publicly released. He has been taken off duty without pay until the matter is resolved.
As this veteran state trooper prepares to address this matter in court, he has plenty of motivation to make every effort to avoid conviction. A drunk driving conviction could have a negative impact not only on his driving privilege, but also on his career and means of support. As of the time of this report, it is unclear whether he has retained a New Jersey defense attorney.
Source: nj.com, "State trooper charged with drunken driving after on-duty crash", S.P. Sullivan, Oct. 27, 2015