An Indianapolis police officer's career careens further into jeopardy after a recent arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, adding to his troubled history with similar offenses. According to WRTV, Sergeant Peter Fekkes was pulled over in Hendricks County last Thursday for an open container violation, and a subsequent investigation revealed he was driving with a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit. Fekkes, already suspended from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department pending termination in connection with a prior incident, was driving after 11 p.m. when his alleged erratic driving attracted the attention of a sheriff's deputy.
The reason for crossing the center line, as Fekkes explained, was due to his consuming Taco Bell while behind the wheel. This casual explanation preceded the discovery of an open bottle of vodka in his car, evidence that belies such everyday distractions. WTHR reports that in an incident last year, Fekkes drove under the influence in Ohio, resulting in a guilty plea, fines, and unsupervised probation; his latest altercation with the law compounds his already tenuous standing with his department and the communities he swore to protect.
Fekkes has been stripped of his police authority and powers since his suspension this April, as stated in a press release by IMPD. His refusal to perform or submit to any field sobriety test during the Hendricks County incident, however, did not prevent law enforcement from conducting a blood draw, which revealed a B-A-C of .249. The details, published by WOWO, indicate a disregard for the legal responsibilities and personal conduct expected of an officer of the law.
Held without bond at the Hendricks County Jail, Fekkes's pattern of behavior brings into question not only his judgment but also the systems of accountability within police departments tasked with overseeing their members.
