Post by WaTcHeR on Jun 23, 2006 14:30:30 GMT -5
06.23.2006 - BETHLEHEM -- An off-duty Albany police sergeant was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated after his car struck another vehicle being driven by an off-duty officer from the Rensselaer Police Department.
Sgt. Vincent P. Foley, 38, who lives off Route 85A in Voorheesville, was slightly injured in the 3 a.m. Thursday crash on New Scotland Road. He was arrested after allegedly refusing to submit to a blood alcohol test. Foley would be the second Albany police officer in less than a year to be charged with DWI for refusing to take a blood alcohol test.
Foley, whose father retired as a commander from the Albany police force in 1997, was driving west in a 1996 Chevrolet when he crossed over the double-yellow center line into oncoming traffic and hit another car head on, Bethlehem police said.
Members of the Slingerlands Fire Department had to extricate Foley from his vehicle, police said. The 16-year Albany police veteran was transported by ambulance to Albany Medical Center Hospital where he received treatment for leg and facial injuries.
The driver of the second vehicle, 35-year-old Daniel D. Micare of Albany, was not injured and does not face any charges. Micare joined the Rensselaer Police Department in 2004. He was off duty at the time of the crash.
The accident happened in the hamlet of Slingerlands near Bridge Street.
Chief James W. Tuffey suspended Foley without pay pending an internal investigation.
Foley is scheduled to appear in Bethlehem Town Court on July 18. More charges are pending, Bethlehem police said, and the crash remains under investigation.
The Bethlehem police department did not release a mug shot of Foley, and it's not clear if one was taken.
The accident follows a series of off-duty, alcohol-related crashes involving Albany police officers over the past two years.
Robert Schunk was charged with drunken driving after he crashed his car into two parked cars on South Allen Street in April 2005. Initially, Schunk fought the charges, claiming internal affairs officers did not properly read him his rights when he refused to take a blood alcohol test.
Schunk later dropped the court challenge, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of driving while ability impaired and returned to duty.
In 2004, Officer Greg Krikorian was arrested for DWI after his car burned down an apartment building as he backed the vehicle into a garage in Watervliet.
Krikorian's car ignited the blaze moments after he crashed into a guardrail along Interstate 787. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charged of driving while ability impaired and returned to duty.
In addition, Detective Kenneth P. Wilcox was killed in an on-duty car crash April 26 on Interstate 90. Authorities said Wilcox had alcohol in his system but was not impaired or intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Following Wilcox's death, Tuffey changed the department's policy to prohibit officers from drinking alcohol within eight hours of reporting for duty.
Foley was not scheduled to work again until midnight Thursday.
"A full internal investigation is under way and we will coordinate the investigation with the assistance of the Bethlehem Police Department's accident investigation," Tuffey said. "I consider this incident to be a serious matter and it will be handled appropriately."
www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=494043&category=REGION&newsdate=6/23/2006
Sgt. Vincent P. Foley, 38, who lives off Route 85A in Voorheesville, was slightly injured in the 3 a.m. Thursday crash on New Scotland Road. He was arrested after allegedly refusing to submit to a blood alcohol test. Foley would be the second Albany police officer in less than a year to be charged with DWI for refusing to take a blood alcohol test.
Foley, whose father retired as a commander from the Albany police force in 1997, was driving west in a 1996 Chevrolet when he crossed over the double-yellow center line into oncoming traffic and hit another car head on, Bethlehem police said.
Members of the Slingerlands Fire Department had to extricate Foley from his vehicle, police said. The 16-year Albany police veteran was transported by ambulance to Albany Medical Center Hospital where he received treatment for leg and facial injuries.
The driver of the second vehicle, 35-year-old Daniel D. Micare of Albany, was not injured and does not face any charges. Micare joined the Rensselaer Police Department in 2004. He was off duty at the time of the crash.
The accident happened in the hamlet of Slingerlands near Bridge Street.
Chief James W. Tuffey suspended Foley without pay pending an internal investigation.
Foley is scheduled to appear in Bethlehem Town Court on July 18. More charges are pending, Bethlehem police said, and the crash remains under investigation.
The Bethlehem police department did not release a mug shot of Foley, and it's not clear if one was taken.
The accident follows a series of off-duty, alcohol-related crashes involving Albany police officers over the past two years.
Robert Schunk was charged with drunken driving after he crashed his car into two parked cars on South Allen Street in April 2005. Initially, Schunk fought the charges, claiming internal affairs officers did not properly read him his rights when he refused to take a blood alcohol test.
Schunk later dropped the court challenge, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of driving while ability impaired and returned to duty.
In 2004, Officer Greg Krikorian was arrested for DWI after his car burned down an apartment building as he backed the vehicle into a garage in Watervliet.
Krikorian's car ignited the blaze moments after he crashed into a guardrail along Interstate 787. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charged of driving while ability impaired and returned to duty.
In addition, Detective Kenneth P. Wilcox was killed in an on-duty car crash April 26 on Interstate 90. Authorities said Wilcox had alcohol in his system but was not impaired or intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Following Wilcox's death, Tuffey changed the department's policy to prohibit officers from drinking alcohol within eight hours of reporting for duty.
Foley was not scheduled to work again until midnight Thursday.
"A full internal investigation is under way and we will coordinate the investigation with the assistance of the Bethlehem Police Department's accident investigation," Tuffey said. "I consider this incident to be a serious matter and it will be handled appropriately."
www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=494043&category=REGION&newsdate=6/23/2006