36 percent of all disciplinary measures taken against Austin firefighters have been for DWI, while only three percent of disciplinary measures taken against Austin cops were for DWI
The Austin American-Statesman reports that from 2009 through July of this year, 50 Austin, Texas firefights have been disciplined, with 18 disciplined for drunk driving. That constitutes 36 percent of all disciplinary measures. Another 22 percent of disciplinary measures were for other alcohol or drug related problems. According to those stats, there are a lot of drunks among Austin’s firefighters.
Not so for the Austin Police Department. During that same period, only three percent of disciplinary measures taken against the cops were for driving while intoxicated.
All but one of the firefighters and one of the cops that were disciplined for DWI had been arrested. It is unknown how many of those were convicted.
Whoa partners, hold them thar horses! Cops and firefighters are well known for their hard drinking. It goes with a stressful job. And while I admire those brave firefighters for entering burning building, I do not think their job is quite as stressful as that of cops. So, something doesn’t pass the smell test here.
How could it be that so many firefighters were disciplined for DWI compared to so few cops? I think the answer is quite simple. It’s because of ‘professional courtesy.’ When cops catch other cops committing minor offenses, the law breaking cops are given a pass. And that also holds true for cops stopped for the serious offense of driving while intoxicated. The drunken cops are usually taken home by the ‘arresting’ officers instead of being taken to jail. They would have to really fuck up to end up in Hotel Pokey.
I would venture to say that there are more drunken Austin cops than firefighters. In both cases, however, those public safety officers still do a damn good job, all that drinking notwithstanding.
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