Post by Critique on Jan 19, 2007 3:36:59 GMT -5
January 17, 2007
By TYRONE TONY REED JR.
A Jackson police sergeant has resigned after pleading guilty to a DUI charge Tuesday morning, according to Jackson Police Chief Rick Staples.
Kelvin Rhyne, a former sergeant who was the head of the Community Crime Reduction Unit/Bicycle Patrol, appeared in Haywood County General Sessions Court Tuesday morning on a first offense DUI charge. The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge, and his driving privileges were suspended for a year, the court clerk's office said.
Rhyne, who has been with the Jackson Police Department for 22 years, also was fined $350 plus court costs and sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail. The jail sentence was suspended to 24 hours in jail and 24 hours of litter removal. He also will be on supervised parole for one year.
Rhyne was driving a green 2000 Toyota Forerunner SUV on Sept. 3 on Interstate 40 when the SUV crashed into a parked Volvo at 2:15 a.m., between mile markers 55 and 66, according to an affidavit of complaint.
The clerk's office said that prosecutors made a motion on Tuesday that two charges be dropped: violation of the due care law and driving on an expired registration. The due care law requires that motorists drive at a safe speed, keep a safe lookout and keep their vehicle under proper control.
Staples said in November that Rhyne would be fired from the department if he was convicted on the DUI charge. He said Tuesday that Rhyne will be missed.
"I hate that (the incident) happened," Staples said. "He did a tremendous job for us. He was effective on the job, in the community and in the Community Crime Reduction Unit/Bicycle Patrol. But, he made a mistake that an officer can't make."
Rhyne was on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.
He is scheduled to report to the Haywood County Jail at 8 p.m. Thursday to serve his 24-hour jail sentence.
www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070117/NEWS01/701170316/1002
By TYRONE TONY REED JR.
A Jackson police sergeant has resigned after pleading guilty to a DUI charge Tuesday morning, according to Jackson Police Chief Rick Staples.
Kelvin Rhyne, a former sergeant who was the head of the Community Crime Reduction Unit/Bicycle Patrol, appeared in Haywood County General Sessions Court Tuesday morning on a first offense DUI charge. The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge, and his driving privileges were suspended for a year, the court clerk's office said.
Rhyne, who has been with the Jackson Police Department for 22 years, also was fined $350 plus court costs and sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail. The jail sentence was suspended to 24 hours in jail and 24 hours of litter removal. He also will be on supervised parole for one year.
Rhyne was driving a green 2000 Toyota Forerunner SUV on Sept. 3 on Interstate 40 when the SUV crashed into a parked Volvo at 2:15 a.m., between mile markers 55 and 66, according to an affidavit of complaint.
The clerk's office said that prosecutors made a motion on Tuesday that two charges be dropped: violation of the due care law and driving on an expired registration. The due care law requires that motorists drive at a safe speed, keep a safe lookout and keep their vehicle under proper control.
Staples said in November that Rhyne would be fired from the department if he was convicted on the DUI charge. He said Tuesday that Rhyne will be missed.
"I hate that (the incident) happened," Staples said. "He did a tremendous job for us. He was effective on the job, in the community and in the Community Crime Reduction Unit/Bicycle Patrol. But, he made a mistake that an officer can't make."
Rhyne was on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.
He is scheduled to report to the Haywood County Jail at 8 p.m. Thursday to serve his 24-hour jail sentence.
www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070117/NEWS01/701170316/1002