Phoenix police officer Seth Samuel Castillo was charged with a DUI last month. He admitted to a Gilbert police officer that he had consumed two 24-ounce beers and took a dose of the prescription drug Ritalin the night he was arrested, as reported in the earlier blog post "Phoenix Police Officer Facing DUI Charges." Yet, Officer Castillo is still patroling the city streets and was never placed on administrative leave.
Recent news reports say that this incident wasn't even Mr. Castillo's first DUI arrest. Fox News states that the man was arrested 8 years ago for driving while intoxicated at the age of 19. Mr. Castillo pleaded guilty to the DUI charge back in 2002, before he began his work with the Phoenix Police Department.
Now, people in the Phoenix community are questioning why a DUI arrest doesn't stop an officer from being hired with the department; and why a DUI arrest doesn't guarantee that an officer will be put on administrative leave. The Arizona Republic reports that officers accused of felonies are often placed on administrative leave, but cases that are similar to Officer Castillo's are usually handled by the officer's supervisors.
Officer Castillo's actions have however prompted an internal investigation. The Phoenix Police Department has announced that they're in the process of reviewing the disciplinary procedures of police officers who are accused of drunk driving.
In a statement reported by ABC News, Phoenix Police Spokesperson Sgt. Tommy Thompson said, "Maintaining the trust and confidence of the community is paramount for the success of the Phoenix Police Department. Misconduct, on or off duty erodes that trust, which is crucial for us to effectively serve the community and it is unacceptable."
Related Resources:
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DUI - Arrest (FindLaw)
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Arizona DUI Law (FindLaw)
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Phoenix DUI Attorney Directory (FindLaw
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