Quote:

Deputies say Thomas was driving a marked sheriff's deputy patrol car around 7:30 a.m., when he hit a pole at Jones Creek and Tigerbend.

Drinking and driving by a law enforcement officer is about as dumb as it gets, but when you throw in the fact that he was in his MARKED PATROL CAR, that takes the cake. Imagine if a citizen in distress had flagged him down and he'd have stumbled out of his car smelling of alcohol. These are the guys that give the police and sheriff a bad reputation. Hopefully there aren't many, if any, more out there.

Pathetic.

That was a stupid comment. Police Officers are people also. Have you ever made a mistake or are you Jesus Christ in the modern era?

Drinking and driving is wrong - no matter what the circumstances. Many good citizens flirt with such "law-breaking" activities such as 'driving under the influence' (along with others) on a daily basis. There is no excuse for this behavior and Doug Thomas admittedly made a mistake. I take offense to the statement that "these are the guys that give the police and sheriff a bad reputation" and how "pathetic" this circumstance or this person is. I know Doug Thomas and he has served the public of East Baton Parish and his country with an unblemished record, 'answering calls of distress' that average citizens could never fathom, prior to this unfortunate event. He is an oustanding young man. Having volunteerd as a member of the US Army Airborne Infantry in Afghanistan and Iraq for five years and as a deputy for EBR Parish for two years, he has protected and served his country and his community with a passion. Yes, he had an irreversible error in judgement and he will bear the life changing consequences. His honest responsibility, admission of fault and acceptance of his fate testifiy to his character - which is not pathetic. So, unless you know him - be cautious about judging him.

Airborne!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are offended that people like him give the Police a bad reputation, then so be it. I did not make that comment because he is a human or because he is a policeman. I made that comment because day in and day out he arrested people for breaking the law and putting others in harms way. Its bad enough that he acted hypocritically and drank then got behind the wheel, but to do it in your MARKED POLICE UNIT goes beyond words. We all were footing the bill on gasoline for him to do this. I'm just glad that myself nor anyone in my family was in the spot that this light pole on Tiger Bend was in, because then another person would have had to suffer for such a selfish act as this. You can defend him all you want, but lets get real here. Drinking and driving in marked police unit by someone sworn to uphold the law and someone who would have given you a DWI the night before this? Call it what you want, i call it utterly pathetic.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

That was a stupid comment. Police Officers are people also. Have you ever made a mistake or are you Jesus Christ in the modern era?

Getting drunk while driving a police unit and carrying a badge and a gun under the pretense of protecting and serving the community isn't a mistake.

Forgetting your anniversary is a mistake, calling the wrong number is a mistake.

What he did was reckless and arrogant. He thought he was better than the law and the citizens he was sworn to protect.

Drinking and driving is bad enough, but in his unit? That goes above and beyond stupidity.

You defending him is laughable. I hope that you aren't an officer of the law.

Originally Posted by freedom504

His honest responsibility, admission of fault and acceptance of his fate testifiy to his character - which is not pathetic. So, unless you know him - be cautious about judging him.

What other choice do you have but to admit responsibility when you hit a pole, fail a field sobriety test, and blow drunk on breathalyzer?

To me it says more about his character that he was drunk at 7:30 in the morning driving a police car.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

That was a stupid comment. Police Officers are people also. Have you ever made a mistake or are you Jesus Christ in the modern era?

So this is the equivalent of slipping on a wet floor?
"Ooops, i'm sorry, I slipped and got loaded at 7:00 in the morning, then hopped in my police cruiser for a spin"

I'm just not feeling this, sorry to dissappoint. I doubt the judge will agree with you either.

Originally Posted by freedom504

I take offense to the statement that "these are the guys that give the police and sheriff a bad reputation" and how "pathetic" this circumstance or this person is.

How about an example of who gives law enforcement a bad reputation then? A cop that deals drugs? Kills? Steals? Exactly what is the cut off for calling cops bad cops? Theft? Murder? Are they still ok if they break one law they were sworn to uphold, but not ok if they break another? If a cop is caught shoplifting and charged with a misdemeanor, is that ok because it was just a bad judgement call? I dont think he could have ran into and killed anyone if he had been shoplifting, so i'd be more ready to forgive that crime than DWI. My mother could have been killed by this drunk policeman. Yours too.

Quote:

I know Doug Thomas and he has served the public of East Baton Parish and his country with an unblemished record, 'answering calls of distress' that average citizens could never fathom, prior to this unfortunate event.

He's probably a hell of a guy and has probably answered many calls of distress. As far as his unblemished record, what do you call a DWI? Thats not even a blemish now? When he took the oath, he swore to go unblemished for life, not 2 years. If he's ever arrested anyone for breaking the law, then that makes him a hypocrite and I defy you to prove me wrong.

Quote:

Yes, he had an irreversible error in judgement and he will bear the life changing consequences. His honest responsibility, admission of fault and acceptance of his fate testifiy to his character - which is not pathetic. So, unless you know him - be cautious about judging him.

Here again, an error in judgement is when you're backing your car up and you think you have enough room between you and the wall but don't and hit the wall. A LACK of judgement is when you, a sworn police officer, get loaded at 7:00 in the morning and get into your police cruiser for a spin around town. Your friend, the good samaritan experienced a LACK of judgement and the feeling that he was above the law. I don't see anyone passing judgement on your obvious friend here. I see concerned citizens of Baton Rouge commenting on this incident that he is responsible for. Im sure no one other than you even knew this guy before he smacked that telephone pole in his police car.

i thinks its funny!