Dangerous Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Driving a car while intoxicated is one of the most dangerous things a person can do behind the wheel. It is the driving force behind many initiatives aimed at reducing the number of such cases, including patrols to detect drunk drivers.
A Special Case in Michigan
However, in Michigan, one police officer, stopped on suspicion of drunk driving, did not undergo the usual procedures. Instead, he was given a ride home, a day off, and was later even promoted. Recently released video from June 2024 shows just how strange this situation was.
Dashcam Footage
Dashcam footage from Officer Noah Noble’s patrol car shows a Jeep SUV driver crossing the center line, hitting curbs, speeding more than 20 mph over the limit, and stopping in the middle of intersections. At one point, another driver even gestured to Officer Noble towards the Jeep, as if asking him to pay attention to that vehicle’s driver.
Meeting a Colleague
When Officer Noble stops the Jeep, he recognizes Officer Austin Mendez, his colleague. Mendez was off-duty and admitted on the bodycam recording that he had drunk three bottles of beer and had just left a bar.
Supervisor Intervention and Camera Shutdown
Noble calls his supervisor, Sergeant Angela Bebinek. When she arrives, she orders Noble to turn off the dashcam and body camera, and does the same with her own equipment. At this point, they simply drive Mendez home, instead of conducting any field sobriety tests or blood tests.
Investigation and Consequences
Only four hours later did Bebinek report the situation to Captain Michael Havemen. He initiated an internal investigation into what happened. In less than 72 hours, the investigation was completed. It resulted in Bebinek being demoted to the rank of officer, and she and Mendez receiving a one-day unpaid disciplinary suspension. According to the Detroit Free Press, Mendez has since been promoted to sergeant.
Prosecutor’s Position and Attorney’s View
The county prosecutor declined to criminally prosecute Mendez at the time, citing insufficient evidence. Attorney John H. Brien believes there is more than enough evidence for a conviction, and he himself has handled drunk driving cases. He speaks about using video evidence that clearly shows traffic violations and calling the involved officers to the witness stand. They will have to explain why they drove their colleague home instead of treating him like any other person in a similar situation. Whether this will actually happen remains unknown for now.
This case raises serious questions about equal application of the law and internal corporate culture within law enforcement. A swift internal investigation with mild consequences, followed by the promotion of one of the incident’s participants, may raise doubts about the system’s transparency. Such situations undermine public trust in the police, as they create the impression that different rules apply to their own. Effective combatting of drunk driving requires consistency and impartiality, regardless of the offender’s status.