The Atlanta Police Department is cracking down on drinking and driving among officers. FOX 5's Morse Diggs has learned that the number of DUIs involving Atlanta officers has more than doubled.
According APD Chief George Turner, eight officers have been arrested on DUI charges in 2012 so far. Turner is promising stiffer discipline, including termination.
APD Deputy Chief Shawn Jones said that in 2011, there were three officers charged with DUI.
"We want to keep our officers on the right side of the law. I mean, we're held to the same standards as any citizen," said APD Deputy Chief Shawn Jones.
Dennis Hammock of the Atlanta Police Union said that officers deal with troubled situations.
"Police officers only deal with the bad side of life. They do that most of every day that they're on the job. Maybe this is a way to escape sometimes and they just get carried away with it," said Hammock.
Turner said the stiffer penalties will begin on Saturday. Officers face a minimum of losing three weeks' pay if they get a DUI.
Union officials said they would like to see more treatment plans than suspensions.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 4:42 PM EDT2013-06-19 20:42:12 GMT
The NAACP is holding an information session about its planned gun buy-back program at 6 p.m. at a northwest Atlanta church as part of ongoing efforts to cut back on gun-related violence in the community.
The NAACP is holding an information session about its planned gun buy-back program at 6 p.m. at a northwest Atlanta church as part of ongoing efforts to cut back on gun-related violence in the community.
