RENO, Nev. — A Reno police sergeant has been charged with driving under the influence after allegedly drinking beer at a June 3 party and then crashing his motorcycle.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports Sgt. Joe Burfield will be the first to undergo the rigors of a new department policy designed to hold officers accountable even for off-duty offenses.
The tough policy was implemented after at least five Reno police officers were arrested for drunken driving between 2000 and February 2010.
The 44-year-old Burfield was seriously injured in the crash on the Pyramid Highway, and a test showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.14 percent, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Police Chief Steven Pitts, who initiated the new policy, says Burfield faces a list of restrictions that include desk duty and counseling.
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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com