Blog. # 7

Should celebrities or radio talk show host should get special treatment for committing DWI just because they are famous at what they do? According to the article I've just read about how DWI Policing May See Change. It seems like the more connection you have the easier you get the get out of jail card. Jeff Ward is an afternoon radio talk show host on KLBJ-AM radio got stop by the police on June 9, 2011 because the police officer saw him speeding on west Sixth Street. After administering a field sobriety test, the officer charged Ward on driving while intoxicated. For some unknown reason Ward decided to call the chief from the jail. After the chief had review the video of the arrest, the chief called the County Attorney David Escamilla notify him that the case was too weak and so by Monday the charges were dismissed.

Yes they encourage us not to drink and drive. Or don’t text and drive, yet here they are giving the radio talk host the special treatment just because Ward make one phone call to the Chief and then the charged is dismiss. The police and the chief get pay from our tax money, yet they favor certain people. Just  because the officer back then forget to give Ward a Breathalyzer test doesn’t mean his charge should be dismiss with one phone call from the Chief to the County Attorney. According to the article what the Chief is doing, doesn’t really give the public confidence in his judgments.

The Chief says he will deploy more portable Breathalyzer units to the field. If drivers agree to take the breath test and register lower than .08 then they will be sent on their way, assuming there isn’t another reason why the officer should hold them. Chief Acevedo said he will roll out the details of the audit, the equipment acquisition and perhaps some revisions to the DWI arrest procedures. With that being said, the public seems to have confidence with what the Chief said. The Chief will be more wary of late night phone calls from the jails, he will respond to citizen complaints or comments on the arrests and that he will continue to review high-profile incidents that draw scrutiny.

In conclusion, I agree with this article. You should be more aware when you are arresting a high-profile person. You should not treat the high-profile person any different than a normal citizen. Each and every one of us should be treated the same when you are being arrested for a DWI. So that we can make the law enforcement job easier and keep everyone safe.