SPRINGFIELD (WKZO AM/FM) — A Battle Creek Police officer has been put on administrative leave after he crashed his personal pick-up into a utility pole in Springfield early Sunday morning and tested positive for alcohol.
A life ambulance supervisor spotted the crash scene at North 20th and Richfield Avenue just before 4 am and called for assistance.
The officer, who was off-duty, was not injured. He was booked into the Kalamazoo County Jail to sleep it off and has bonded out with an arraignment set for later this month.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department is handling the investigation. No word on the officer’s blood alcohol count.
The officer will remain on leave until an internal investigation is completed.
Battle Creek Chief Jim Blocker issued this statement…“I have said many times to our community that we hire from the human race, not the super-human race, and to that end, I am not making excuses, or justifying the behavior of this officer. However, I am acknowledging that, as an employer, this is a personnel issue through which we must work with this employee.”
“Further, I have thanked the Calhoun County Sheriff for the good work; no law enforcement officer wants to have to arrest a fellow officer. We will get through this through open and honest communication.”
