Narcotics Officer Involved In DWI Crash
Anyone can fall victim to a lapse in judgement or suffer the consequences of abusing drugs or alcohol. Driving while intoxicated is never a good idea, and officers of the law are just as subject to the law as civilians are.
In a recent article appearing on the Houston Chronicle Website, an off-duty undercover officer was arrested after he was driving while intoxicated and caused a four-car crash a short distance away from downtown Houston. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo confirmed that Bobby Lee Jennings, 50, of the Houston Police Department’s narcotics division, has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. Jennings allegedly caused the multi-vehicle accident on Tuesday in the 1200 block of Houston Avenue.
Jennings sideswiped two vehicles and crashed into a third with a vehicle owned by the City of Houston. Other Houston Police officers arrived at the scene to investigate and suspected that Jennings showed signs of intoxication. A special DWI investigator was called to the scene regarding the matter.
The Harris County Court-at-Law filed misdemeanor charges against Jennings and he is currently free after posting a $500 bond.
Chief Acevedo indicated that those officers that are DWI will always be held fully accountable and that there are numerous programs and support available to members of the police force and their families who are struggling with substance abuse issues.
“So there is absolutely no excuse for getting intoxicated and driving while intoxicated,” he said. “I know a lot of my employees and that most of them — it doesn’t mean they’re a bad person, but they made a bad choice, and they’re going to have to pay the consequences,” Chief Acevedo said.