Police officers are human, and they are subject to the many failings that all humans possess. An especially tragic flaw for a police officer is an addiction to alcohol. This disability can ruin an officer’s career unless strong measures are taken to control and end the addiction. An officer with the Midland Police Department may have fallen victim to his alcoholism once too often.
The officer was arrested by Midland police when they responded to reports of a vehicle collision involving injuries. When police arrived, they immediately spotted the officer as the at-fault driver. Because the responding officers were aware that the officer was aware of police tactics and because they suspected that weapons might be in the car, they summoned the Midland Special Weapons and Tactics team for assistance. Officers from the Odessa Police Department SWAT also provided assistance at the scene.
At first, the suspect refused to leave his car or communicate with the officers on the scene. The Odessa SWAT and K9 teams eventually controlled the suspect and removed him from his vehicle. They found weapons and body armor from the suspect’s vehicle. After being arrested, the suspect was transported to the Midland Memorial Hospital for medical examination, treatment of minor injuries and clearance for incarceration. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and abandoning or endangering a child.
The suspect has an unfortunate recent history involving alcohol. He was arrested on April 13 on a charge of public intoxication. Before this arrest, he had been placed on administrative leave pending investigation of another infraction. The nature of this infraction was not disclosed. Now he is facing criminal charges arising from his latest infraction.
The suspect’s difficulties with alcohol may have extensive consequences. His future with the Midland Police Department or any other law enforcement agency will be adversely affected by the pending police charges. Any future employment in law enforcement will depend upon the defendant’s willingness to undergo treatment for alcoholism and any other dependency related illness.
Alcoholics do not always realize that their disease can profoundly and adversely affect their lives. Repeated episodes, especially if police are involved, can render them ineligible for some jobs, such as law enforcement, or interfere with their family life and other personal relationships.
Experts who treat alcoholism believe that an important element of successful treatment of the disease is emotional support. This support can be provided by health care professionals, family members and friends. Without such care, the victim faces a life-long and ultimately unsuccessful struggle to conquer the disease.
Perhaps the most significant team member is a capable criminal defense attorney. A knowledgeable defense lawyer can evaluate the evidence in the case, provide aggressive defense when necessary and, if appropriate, negotiate an acceptable plea agreement.