At around 12:50 A.M. on June 2nd, authorities discovered a vehicle stopped at a light with an unresponsive driver. Police walked up to the car, only to discover the commanding officer of a Brooklyn NYPD precinct asleep at the wheel. Even worse, there was clearly a half-empty bottle of vodka in the backseat of the car.
Authorities noticed those two obvious signs of intoxication, so they asked Captain Jared Badillo to step out of the car. The officers reported that Badillo was unstable and wobbly as he emerged from the vehicle. He was also slurring his words, and his breath smelled like alcohol. Badillo’s eyes were bloodshot, and his face was flushed.
One of the officers had his body camera turned on as they began to question the Captain. On the footage, you can clearly hear Badillo confess, “I had three or four beers.” Due to all these facts, Badillo was taken in to submit to a breathalyzer test. He blew a blood alcohol level of .18, which is far above the legal driving limit of .08 or below.
Badillo was promptly arrested and charged with driving while under the influence. Considering the circumstances, he was also suspended without pay. Later on in the day, Badillo was released from jail without bail.
When a New York Police Officer Gets a DUI
DUIs and DWIs are serious traffic offenses, even though they happen more often than we’d all like to admit. Like Captain Badillo, it’s not uncommon for intoxicated drivers to fall asleep at the wheel or experience very slow response times. Since alcohol impairs a person’s judgment, driving while drunk is very dangerous.
When a police officer gets arrested for a DUI or DWI offense, they have to suffer the legal and criminal consequences of their actions just like any other citizen. That means they also get arrested, booked into jail, and then sentenced.
In New York, a first-time DUI offense can result in a jail sentence of up to one year. The guilty party might also be subject to fines of up to $1,000, a license suspension that could last up to six months, and a probationary period where they have to install an Ignition Interlock Device in the vehicle.
If you thought those penalties were harsh, then you’ll be surprised to learn the penalties associated with any subsequent DUIs. These offenses will come with longer jail terms, bigger fines, longer license suspensions, and other consequences.
When the accused individual is also a police officer, they will experience professional consequences as a result of their arrest or conviction. Their behavior could result In problems when it comes to finding a new job in law enforcement, and it could even put their current position at risk depending on the severity of the charge and whether the person ultimately gets convicted or not. If the officer gets charged with a felony DUI, then there’s a great chance that they won’t be able to work in any police department again. Very few departments accept applicants with felony records.
If you’ve recently been arrested for an alcohol-related charge, then it’s in your best interest to talk to a criminal defense attorney about what happened. Schedule a consultation with our office now to learn more about how we can help.
