Intoxicated Roseville Officer Drove Wrong Way on Woodward, Driven Home by Ferndale Police

(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 29, 2017)

Ferndale, MI— Charges are being brought against a Roseville police officer who drove the wrong way on Woodward Avenue, but only weeks later, after the Police Chief learned that officers on the night in question let the man go without consequence and gave him a ride home.

Ferndale Police Chief Timothy Collins issued a statement about the incident, saying “On November 9, 2017, a vehicle was pulled over in Ferndale for driving southbound on northbound Woodward Ave. The vehicle was stopped by an officer of the Ferndale Police Department; they suspected the driver, identified as an officer of the Roseville Police Department, and his passenger, of being intoxicated. A supervisor was notified, who ordered the driver and passenger to be brought to the Ferndale Police Department, and later to be driven home. Ferndale Police administration was made aware of the incident by a Ferndale police officer on the evening of Friday, Nov. 17. On Saturday, Nov. 18, an internal investigation was launched. On Nov. 24, a criminal complaint was submitted against the driver for warrant for Operating Under the Influence; the case is currently active and ongoing.”

“On the surface, this appears to be an example of poor decision making by one of our lieutenants,” Collins said. “As a  police department, we take cases of operating and driving under the influence incredibly seriously. It’s a critical threat to public health and safety, and we as a department work regularly to educate the community to reduce instances of intoxicated driving.”

“Collins reports that if the lieutenant’s actions are found to be in violation of policy and procedure once the investigation is complete, the individual will face appropriate disciplinary measures. He expects the investigation to be complete within the next week,” the statement said.”
“Our jobs are complex and we trust our people to use sound judgment,” Collins said. “When somebody makes a call that is unsafe or not indicative of the department’s values and operations, we take that seriously and we act accordingly.”
“Collins says that within the next month the entire department will be going through an educational program about intoxicated driving. He adds that it is department protocol to regularly educate and retrain to ensure continual improvement.”
“We will do everything in our power to ensure that this kind of error isn’t made again,” Collins said.

The Detroit News reports that the passenger in the vehicle was the wife of the Roseville Police officer, and an employee of the Troy Police Department.  The name of the driver has not yet been released.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.