What Happens When a Police Officer Gets a DUI?

The punishment for officers, as in all criminal cases, depends on the circumstances, the officer, and the location.

Facing a DUI? We've helped 115 clients find attorneys today.

There was a problem with the submission. Please refresh the page and try again
Full Name is required
Email is required
Please add a valid Email
Phone Number is required
Please add a valid Phone Number
Zip Code is required
Please add a valid Zip Code
Description is required
By clicking "Find a Lawyer", you agree to the Martindale-Nolo Texting Terms. Martindale-Nolo and up to 5 participating attorneys may contact you on the number you provided for marketing purposes, discuss available services, etc. Messages may be sent using pre-recorded messages, auto-dialer or other automated technology. You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Your number will be held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

While police are generally on the other side of DUI (driving under the influence) enforcement, police officers aren't immune to arrest and conviction for driving under the influence. And, those who have DUI convictions on their records could find their criminal history to be an obstacle to getting employment in law enforcement. Here is some general information on how a DUI conviction might impact a career in law enforcement.

Can You Become a Cop with a DUI Conviction on Your Record?

All law enforcement applicants must pass a background check prior to becoming a police officer. However, a prior DUI conviction won't necessarily preclude an applicant from becoming an officer.

Some police departments have particularly strict policies against hiring officers with prior DUI convictions. However, most police departments are more concerned with applicants who have serious criminal convictions (such as sex offenses and felonies) and convictions for crimes that reflect badly on the applicant's trustworthiness or moral character. Many police departments won't employ officers who have felony convictions, including felony DUIs. But policies related to misdemeanor DUI convictions normally require only that applicants be free of any DUI or license suspension incidents for at least a few years.

More recently, many departments have become more lenient about applicant's histories and instead of having bright-line rules, consider each applicant's history on a case-by-case basis.

What Happens if a Cop Gets a DUI?

Law enforcement officers who break the law aren't supposed to get special privileges. So, an officer who's convicted of driving under the influence should face the same penalties as anyone else. But a DUI can also have an impact on a police officer's employment, especially if the officer was on-duty at the time of the offense.

Police officers who are arrested for driving under the influence will normally be subject to an internal investigation. Depending on the investigation outcome, the officer might face consequences such as dismissal, administrative leave, or having to complete a substance abuse treatment program. If the incident involved the officer being impaired while on-duty, dismissal is generally the most likely outcome.

But even if the offense occurred while the officer was off-duty, the DUI penalties can make it impossible for the officer to keep doing his or her job. For example, an officer with a suspended license can't operate a squad car and may be placed on leave without pay until his or her driving privileges are restored.

FACING A DUI?
Talk to a DUI Defense attorney
We've helped 115 clients find attorneys today.
There was a problem with the submission. Please refresh the page and try again
Full Name is required
Email is required
Please add a valid Email
Phone Number is required
Please add a valid Phone Number
Zip Code is required
Please add a valid Zip Code
Description is required
By clicking "Find a Lawyer", you agree to the Martindale-Nolo Texting Terms. Martindale-Nolo and up to 5 participating attorneys may contact you on the number you provided for marketing purposes, discuss available services, etc. Messages may be sent using pre-recorded messages, auto-dialer or other automated technology. You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Your number will be held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

How It Works

  1. Briefly tell us about your case
  2. Provide your contact information
  3. Choose attorneys to contact you