Column

DUI job requires a sober approach

By SUE CARLTON
Published June 23, 2007

You can't hear the stories of people who believe in Mothers Against Drunk Driving and not understand what motivates them. You hear about a sister, a friend, a child killed by an act so selfish and pointless it boggles the mind. MADD has become a powerful force fueled by the belief that this has to stop.

But might some of their well-intentioned efforts cross the line?

Former Hillsborough sheriff's Deputy Daniel Brock, once considered a top DUI cop, was fired after a review determined he arrested dozens of people whose blood alcohol level was below the legal threshold - often without backup proof like bad driving or a stumbling video. Brock defends his actions and says he'll fight for his job; the state attorney is deciding if he committed a crime.

The attention focused on Brock this week brings to mind the special status given to successful (as in high-arresting) DUI cops. To my knowledge, officers who handle burglaries, sexual batteries or even homicides don't get a state banquet for their impressive number of collars. They aren't treated to the annual luncheon at swanky Armani's that the DUI Counterattack organization holds.

Yearly, Hillsborough's MADD chapter awards top local DUI officers with donated prizes -- 50 bucks at Home Depot, dinner at Outback, $99 at Donatello's restaurant, Busch Gardens tickets, a $1,000 cruise. (Brock himself got trips to SeaWorld with a night in a hotel twice, though he donated one, according to MADD. His attorney said he also donated another award. "He's never been in it for the prize," said attorney Jeffrey Blau. "He believes in what he does.")

MADD's state executive director and chief executive Don Murray said he doesn't believe officers do their work in hopes of getting some perk. He pointed out they don't know ahead of time what the prizes will be. "Police officers have a difficult job, and we're just trying to say thanks," he says. The Sheriff's Office echoes that.

Defense lawyers, not so much. "Why should these officers be given financial rewards for the number of arrests they make?" says lawyer John Trevena.

And call me a cheap date, but I might ratchet up my work production for a cruise. A trip to Target even.

No question cops have a tough job. Plaques, certificates to fatten personnel files, attaboys from the boss and promotions compensate for work well done. But goodies that even suggest any other motivation worry me, particularly when they emphasize quantity of arrests over quality.

Overzealous arrests can get court cases tossed. No one wants that -- especially the good people of MADD.

* * *

Skater dudes descended on downtown Tampa this week for Go Skateboarding Day, and police were there to keep a close eye on things. Good.

If you agreed with some skaters that this was way harsh -- plus that bogus no-skateboarding-downtown rule -- you should have been in my car going home that day.

The car in front of me was turning right when a blur of skateboarder flew into the street in front of him, a kid chasing a board that had rolled away. The car stopped just in time.

The kid ran back to his buddies, oblivious as only a kid can be to the enormity of what could have happened.

[Last modified June 23, 2007, 00:09:18]