Cop driving impaired at 143 mph could keep job

www.9news.com...

A highly controversial opinon is coming from a Civil Service Commission panel in the case of Officer Derrick Saunders.

Saunders was fired for what he did almost two years ago. He was off duty and driving his friend's sports car in Arapahoe County.

A Colorado State Patrol officer clocked Saunders going 143 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone - 88 miles per hour over the speed limit.

Saunders' blood alcohol level was 0.089, which was enough to classify Saunders as driving while ability impaired (D.W.A.I.)

Denver's Manager of Safety, Alex Martinez, fired Saunders last year.

The Denver Police Protective Association (PPA) argued the rules call for suspension for this kind of offense.

An independent Civil Service Commission panel of three hearing officers, all of them labor attorneys, agreed with the PPA and issued Saunders a 42 day suspension.

Denver Police Chief Robert White tells 9NEWS he disagrees with the panel's decision

"It compromises the integrity of the police officer. It really compromises and is a credibility issue for the many officers that are out there doing their job right and doing the right thing every single day. And it's a black eye that we just simply don't need," White said.

I find this beyond words.

He disgraced and discredited the entire department and the decision makes a mockery of 'the law'.

He skated with virtually no punishment, a mere slap on the wrist.

reply to post by oghamxx


This is absolutely disgusting. Being an implement of the law does not make one above the law. Things like this reinforce the precedent that officers of law are held to a different standard than the lowly peons.

The problem is not that this Officer is getting his job back...

The REAL problem here is the rules that allow it to happen. This is why Cops get away with crap all the time. The Police get to police themselves so the rules are always in their favor.

^ well of course.

Name a gang bigger than the Police force....

reply to post by CALGARIAN


The Federal Government?