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2008-06-26  ALPHARETTA AND ROSWELL REVUE & NEWS | Roswell cop arrested for DUI
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| | by Jason Wright | |  |
July 08, 2008
ROSWELL -- Roswell police arrested one of their own July 5 for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on Nesbit Ferry Road.
An internal investigation has been initiated into the incident involving police officer first class Jeremiah Stephens, who was arrested after an officer saw him allegedly weave across the double yellow and fog lines on Nesbit Ferry Road in a black Ford F-150 pick up truck just after 4 a.m. He was arrested after a battery of field sobriety tests and gave two breath samples of .113 at Roswell jail, more than the legal limit for safe driving in Georgia, .08. The truck was impounded.
What has some worried, though, is that Stephens was released on a copy of the charges at Roswell jail at the behest of a sergeant on duty.
Lt. James McGee, the officer who is conducting the investigation into the incident, said that release will also be investigated. Normally, a suspect accused of DUI spends at least the night in jail until that person can make bail. Medical problems or a young person who could go home with a parent are usually the reasons for a suspect not going directly to jail and staying there.
"There is not necessarily a policy against not booking anyone into the jail — it does happen," said McGee. "You do have to cite them, but as far as why this particular officer was not booked into the jail, that's going to be part of the internal investigation."
McGee said Stephens, who has been employed with the Roswell Police Department for 2 1/2 years, has been taken off road duty. He has been assigned to other tasks in the department pending the outcome of McGee's 30-day investigation.
No sanctions have been enacted yet, said McGee, pending the outcome of his internal investigation.
All findings will be turned into Police Chief Ed Williams. That investigation will run parallel to Stephens own case in the criminal justice system, for which he has obtained a lawyer, said McGee.
In addition, Stephens will face an investigation by POST -- the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council -- the certification body for officers.
McGee said POST could suspend or revoke his certification, "depending on what happens," said McGee.
McGee said Stephens has never been cited before in his career with Roswell, the first department for which he has worked.
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Reader Comments
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August 19, 2008 | 10:00 PM
you people have no clue what it means to be a cop. mostly they are dealing with losers like yourselves who have no life except to be on a loser chat room. Get a life, maybe join the fire department so you can have some worth in your life; you office workers really have no clue!
malalka, rome
Arresting Officer?
August 17, 2008 | 01:48 PM
What is name of the arresting officer? Does he have any problems in the department?
Phillip, Rockwall, Tx
Poor Boy In Blue
July 10, 2008 | 04:48 PM
I feel so sad for him. I'm sure his family, and friends, are upset too. We all make mistakes, and I'm sure he's paying for his. Luckily, he has friends at the jail that helped him out. That is what friends are for, right?
Pray for him and leave him be. He's already suffered enough.
Compassioned Observer
Sure they are only human, but a cop?
July 09, 2008 | 11:14 PM
What if he killed someone? Being a policeman, he should be upholding the law not breaking it.
Follow the laws
This is the problem with our leadership!
July 09, 2008 | 11:47 AM
We all agree he has done wrong but in the end he will be given his badge back and he will eventually pull someone else over for a DUI, and prosecute them. While he wasn't. Why cannot our leaders on the police force, local, state and federal government hold themselves accountable to the same rules that they tell us to. I mean how are you going to earn the respect of the voters and citizens if you are going to be like the parent who says "do what i say not what I do" You won't. That is ridiculous he should be either fired or put in a department where he won't be on the street. Most of us would loose our job, if our job entailed driving around if we got a DUI on our personal time.
Jonathan Hoover
Status Quo
July 09, 2008 | 07:23 AM
I dont understand what you people find so irregular about this. The citizens are lucky that you even charged him. I am not surprised that there was some kind of failure on the part of the police department, it ultimately gives him an out in court where he will never see trial from lack of evidence, and it will allow him to remain on the force.It the old double standard. This reduces his out of pocket and allows for him to collect his pay while he is suspended and resume duties even before trial.
Bruce Miami
Roswell Cop
July 08, 2008 | 08:31 PM
They are only human... hopefully Stephens will learn his lesson and move on productively.
Concerned
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