A Berwyn police officer is facing DUI charges after crashing his police vehicle in North Riverside, an accident that resulted in his K-9 companion fleeing the scene. The officer, who was driving the vehicle, was found to have a blood alcohol content level of 0.12, which is above Illinois' legal limit of 0.08. According to ABC7 Chicago, the incident occurred late last month, and the officer has since been relieved of his police powers pending an internal affairs investigation.
Caught on body-camera video by responding North Riverside officers, the crash took place at Des Plaines Avenue and Country Club Lane. The vehicle's airbags deployed, hinting at the severity of the impact with the utility pole, which was also caught on surveillance footage. As a search ensued for the escaped K-9 named Romeo, the officer, whose identity has not been disclosed pending formal charges, was taken to the hospital, where his intoxication was confirmed. The report by WGN-TV highlighted that the dog, which serves as a therapy animal and is beloved in the community, was eventually found unharmed and has since returned to duty.
In the wake of the crash, there was a notable delay in the Berwyn Police Department's communication to the public. It wasn't until two weeks after the accident that the department stated on Facebook. "The accused officer has been relieved of police powers and is the subject of an ongoing internal affairs investigation," the Berwyn Police Department stated, as obtained by WGN-TV. The statement also affirmed the department's dedication to "serving with integrity, accountability, and transparency."
The delay in the department's statement has raised eyebrows within the Berwyn community. An individual familiar with the matter, Steve Taylor, commented to WGN-TV, "The timeframe between when the incident occurred and the public statement we got yesterday – only after we posted this on social media – is not surprising." Expressing a call for transparency and local accountability, Taylor added, "The administration has a history of handling things behind closed doors." This sentiment reflects a growing concern among residents regarding the oversight of their law enforcement bodies, particularly when involving an officer-involved incident.
The court appearance for the DUI arrest of the Berwyn officer is expected to take place later this month. This development follows a trend of heightened scrutiny over police conduct and public accountability. Neither the officer accused in the DUI crash nor the Berwyn Police Department immediately responded to requests for further comment. Should the officer receive formal charges, additional details of the incident will likely emerge, casting further light upon the consequences of his actions that snowy December morning.
