Liepaja police officer arrested for drink-driving after causing accident — structural unit head demoted
A Liepaja police officer with a blood alcohol level of 2.05 per mille caused an accident on Zirņu Street. The structural unit head has been transferred to a lower position, and a service investigation has been launched.
Liepaja police officer detained intoxicated after accident, head loses position
On Thursday at approximately 19:30, the State Police received an automatic eCall signal from a vehicle located on Zirņu Street beyond the junction with Jaunā Street in Liepaja, reports Apollo. Upon arriving at the scene, officials found a Škoda vehicle and a man standing nearby who initially refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
The man was identified as a State Police employee who was off duty at the time. A breathalyser test showed 2.05 per mille. No third-party property was damaged in the incident.
The detainee is an employee of a structural unit of the Main Order Police Division performing service duties in Liepaja and Dienvidkurzeme Municipality. The Škoda is his private vehicle. A criminal case has been initiated against him for driving a motor vehicle whilst intoxicated; the case materials will be submitted to the Internal Security Bureau.
In response to the incident, and taking into account other violations recently identified in the particular structural unit, the State Police has launched a service investigation. The structural unit head has been transferred to a lower position. Police leadership stated that such conduct has never been and will not be tolerated.
Police urge residents to report possible violations by law enforcement to the State Police Internal Control Bureau or the Internal Security Bureau, guaranteeing the anonymity of reporting parties.
This case is not unique. At the end of July, during city celebrations in Priekule, a police officer — severely intoxicated and off duty — beat a man, causing him fatal injuries; the victim died in an ambulance. Similarly, at the end of July in Aizkraukle, a police employee was detained after causing a road traffic accident whilst intoxicated and subsequently fleeing from police.
Source: Apollo