Deputies in St. Paddy's Day Crash Were Drunk, Will Be Fired: Sheriff

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OAKLAND COUNTY, MI – Two off-duty Oakland County deputies who were allegedly drunk and in possession of firearms when they were involved a St. Patrick’s Day accident will be fired, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Friday.

In a statement, Bouchard said the office is “deeply disappointed.”

“This is completely unacceptable on more levels than I can list,” Bouchard said.“Law enforcement is held to a higher standard. They have violated the public’s trust and will be held accountable for their inexcusable actions.”

Both deputies, who weren’t named, have been with the sheriff’s office for fewer than 19 months, and both have been suspended.

Additionally, the sheriff’s office has begun termination proceedings, and their status as deputies has been revoked. The sheriff’s office confiscated their agency-issued equipment, badges and identification.

The accident occurred about 11 a.m. Thursday at University Drive near Paddock Street in city of Pontiac. The deputy who was driving allegedly rear-ended a vehicle driven by a 70-year-old woman, who was treated for minor injuries at an area hospital and released.

Sheriff’s office deputies from the Pontiac substation responded to the accident, and “it was apparent that both off-duty deputies had been drinking,” Bouchard said in the statement.

The driver was arrested for operating while impaired and possession of a firearm while intoxicated. The passenger was arrested for possession of a firearm while intoxicated. Both deputies were carrying off-duty firearms, according to the statement.

Blood tests were taken, but the results weren’t immediately available. Both deputies were taken to the Oakland County Jail, where they were held overnight and released pending further investigation.

Once the results of the blood tests are returned, sheriff’s investigators will present the case to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for criminal charges.