Seattle DUI Police Under Investigation
Driving under the influence carries serious penalties in Washington. Offenders face hefty fines, license revocations, court-ordered fees, and even jail or prison sentences. So it’s vital that the process by which a person is charged with DUI is fair and transparent.
Unfortunately, the Seattle Police Department is being accused of cutting corners when assembling DUI cases. The results of an internal investigation found that some police officers ignored departmental policy when filing DUI charges. Specifically, two officers were cited for not only failing to receive certification of their cases by a sergeant, but also using the supervisor’s “approval stamp” themselves without authorization. Another officer reportedly inserted statements into his reports claiming that his cases had been certified by a supervisor when they in fact had not.
Testimony provided to the department’s Office of Professional Accountability claimed that most police forces do not require supervisory approval, and that the “rubber stamping” of DUI cases had been occurring for over two decades. Witnesses also testified that the sergeant had “pre-approved” the DUI arrests, and that the officers acted only to fulfill data requirements and not to deprive DUI suspects of their rights. In the end, the OPA cleared the three officers of misconduct allegations.
One DUI defendant has asked that his case be dismissed due to the policy violation. But many experts believe that the cases affected will not be tossed out because an arresting officer can be cross-examined by defense attorneys – so jurors will get an opportunity to decide on the credibility of his testimony.
However, this practice represents a troubling development in the arrests of suspected drunk drivers in Seattle. The departmental policy of requiring supervisor certification for DUI arrests was instituted for a reason, and officers are expected to follow the policy. But if Seattle police officers continue to rubber-stamp cases and/or cut corners throughout the arrest and prosecution process, then the chances of officer misconduct and/or wrongful convictions will increase.