Charges against 54 accused drunk drivers have been dropped by the State Attorney of Polk County. Facts became public about a deputy serving on the DUI Enforcement Squad who allegedly cut corners on proper procedure for blood alcohol tests and officer report writing. The deputy, 27-year old Tex Thomas, has served the Polk County Sheriff's Office since February of 2008. He made 124 DUI arrests within the past year alone. Up until recently the sheriff's department considered him a model officer in all evaluations.
All this changed after an internal investigation documented that Thomas failed to follow officer protocol for alcohol testing and arrest reports. The investigation took place from October 2008 through July 2009 after statements from the officer in question emerged during a deposition. Thomas claimed that he used a template to cut and paste information from previous arrest reports into new document for new offenders. He also admitted that he did not follow the rules and wait the allotted 20 minutes of time before a suspect submitted a breath sample. Belching, vomiting or ingesting anything could provide a false reading and impact the validity of the test.
The Polk County State Attorney's office decided not to file charges against 50 individuals arrested by Thomas for DUI. An additional four cases have also been dropped by the State. Polk County defense attorneys are applauding the ethical efforts made by the State. Assistant State Attorney Hope Pattey issued a statement that "we see that short cuts are taken or procedures are not followed, we have an obligation to do what is right."
Thomas has been reassigned to patrol from the DUI enforcement squad. The Polk County Sheriff's Office has not yet taken any disciplinary against the officer. The case of officer Tex Thomas falsifying reports is still undergoing an internal investigation.
If you have been charged with the crime of driving under the influence, contact an experienced attorney for help with your case. With budget cuts and the financial crisis our country is facing, the Police are short handed and understaffed. Mistakes can happen, either by accident or decision. I will review your case, ensure your arresting officer followed proper procedure and fight for your rights in Court. Contact a knowledgable Polk County DUI attorney for help today.
