Lisa Staples was arrested early Sunday morning for DUI after she was caught driving on the wrong side of the road on Interstate 72.
The police chief says she's been with the department more than a decade and never had any problems like this. Police received calls before 3 a.m. Sunday to report a car driving on the wrong side of interstate 72.
State police arrested 39 year old Lisa Staples near the Mahomet exit after they realized she was under the influence of alcohol. Staples was not carrying her drivers license.
"It's a regrettable incident we wish wouldn't have been made. She will be going through criminal investigations with Illinois State Police, as well as an internal investigation. She could face anything up to termination," said Champaign Police Chief R.T. Finney.
A special prosecutor will handle the case because of Staples' close relationship with county officials. She will be back in court December 19th.
12 comments:
It is highly unusual for police offers to be arrested for DUI as their colleagues usually 'let them off'. However, I believe on this occassion, the arresting officers represented a different county (Piatt) than that of the police force she worked for (Champaign). It is unfortunate that she was not discovered by her buddies first...this way she would be still working today with no DUI headache.
Considering that Mahomet is clearly within Champaign County....and not Piatt County I think you may be misinformed. As the article states she was arrested by an Illinois State Trooper, most likely out of District 10-Pesotum, IL. I think that there is an ongoing problem of law enforcement officers that have served many years suffering from the stress and such of the job and their own personal lives, sometimes causing them to abuse alcohol and drugs (street or prescription) in order to deal with such problems. As stated, she served many years with no trouble. Many departments are quicker to dispose of an officer that has served so many years, rather than offer a chance at help. it is easier to use up and spit out a great officer than it would be to help them just a little. It's like how the military uses troops and then has no adequate resources to address the troubles and nightmares they played a part in making. I think that the system should shed some level of responsibility for not being more attentive to officers on a personal level. We do not know what her situation is and knowing of her many years of service, I think is would be fair to find out what is ailing her to have done this?? She has probably spent many years helping many people, as is her duty. Therefore, don't you think that maybe it would be fair to help her for once? She is a good officer! I know an extensive list of people that would have to agree. People are still people and they are human and not exempt from mistakes. Maybe if she has a situation that is treatable, it would be worth it to help her and reaccess her role within the department. Maybe there would be a more suitable position that she would be more able to perform in after so many great years of service? So many regular people get off of prosecution on DUI's, she should not be thrown the book at so quickly. The humiliation and shame of being arrested is punishment alone for a police officer. Especially how your coworkers view you thereafter, that is a sentence within itself!
well congratulations to you anonymous commenter #1 for being a perfect person. I am not perfect, she's not perfect and has never claimed to be and neither are most people.WALK A DAY IN HER SHOES BEFORE YOU JUDGE HER & THEN TALK.(If you'd make it,NOT LIKELY) JJAZZYJODI
Sorry to have offended the 2 comment authors below comment #1. I do have absolute sympathy for Officer Staples and I'm sure she is a good woman. Many good people who are kind, contribute to the community and in fact just help people when they can, often find themselves in big trouble when they get behind the wheel of a car after too many drinks. I actually have experience of getting a DUI and so am all too aware of the punishment received on so many levels. I think you both missed my point...I was saying that 'some' officers drink and drive whether they have one Bud Light or 10. If they are stopped by their co-workers/friends they are 'more likely' to be escorted or driven home without the book being thrown at them, than the average DUI offender. I made the biggest mistake of my life getting behind the wheel drunk and I'll never, never make it again! Fortunately for me and Officer Staples we didn't kill or hurt anyone. I wish her the best getting through this ordeal. My real sympathy goes out to a young man who is responsible for the death of a young woman (and of course my thoughts are with her family too) through a drink driving related accident last month in Champaign County...he probably is a good, kind guy too with no priors. Now he faces a long jail sentence maybe and the guilt for the rest of his life for taking someone elses life.
L. S. was a bad officer I ever known. I has been prayed God to reveil this bad one. Whenever I sit down in the Church, I pray for God to give bad to me te day I can see in court for her crime. Using her 3 decades at work, she did a crime to me, now she has to pay for. I want this msg to go to the investigators for this case. L. is not deserved to made a daily living on our taxes.
"Fortunately... Officer Staples we didn't kill or hurt anyone."
Sadly, other officers have.
A 23 year old officer, while talking on the radio to a relative/officer, slams into another car and kills a 16 year old girl at 70 mph. ISP rules that the 16 year old was at fault. Officer had previously boasted about how quickly they could transport inmates to prison. Officer had been at the job less than nine months.
Two years later, the same officer arrested an individual who was high on meth. The arrested person was banging on doors and being disorderly. Arrested person claimed to have overdosed. Officer in question took over 30 minutes to arrest the suspect. While the person did break the law, they also needed medical attention. Arrested person died 45 minutes after arrest, on the way to the hospital. ISP cleared the officer of any wrong doing.
Two times in two years, two times with two different departments, the same officer was involved with the death of a civilian. Maybe the person killed was an inexperienced driver, but maybe an experienced officer would not have been speeding and been paying more attention to the road. Maybe they were a substance abuser, but maybe if they'd received medical attention sooner they would have lived.
I work in law enforcement. I saw these events almost firsthand. I know many officers go 20 years without incidents like this.
Some people should not be police officers -- it's just a matter of time before they kill someone due to their recklessness and/or ego. I'm greatful I do not live in Champaign County, where this officer currently works.
I understand that her light sentence was the talk of the courthouse this morning! I'm glad everything is going to be ok for her.
Well Let me start by commenting on Jodi's comment...Yeah we ar all imperfect people however you miss the bigger picture..SHE IS A COP!!! they are to be held to a HIGHER standard than the people they protect and serve.
And while i am sure she is a good person at heart that is an irresponsible act that given her position in law enforcement it makes it really hard to swallow that she will get to keep her job and is on paid leave while a slap on the wrist is applied and if that were a normal working person she/he would have been dealt with much more severely.
For what it's worth i actually know here and for several years i worked at a local grocery store she came into all the time to shop at and i can honestly say that this isnt a big suprise to me because she was and apparently still is quite a heavy drinker. I saw on many occasions her come in intoxicated and buy more booze. justice isnt served to the good people of C-U in this instance
in addition to the "boundry" issue the troopers that stopped Ms Staples probably were from Piatt county because the county line is just west of mahomet and so they were able to respond as they were closer than anyone else,unlike city cops they dont really have boundries they cant cross over so they are most likely out of dist 10 but either way at least they caught her before she was able to get off the highway or hit someone
There is absolutely NO excuse for the slap on the wrist she got. It's clear that the legal system is corrupt when they let a drunk cop driving the wrong way down the interstate get off the way she did. She should have been fired when she refused the Breathalyzer.
I believe the poster who said she was always buying alcohol - you have to be pretty shitfaced to get on the interstate the wrong way, especially while driving a cop car.
I wonder who she is screwing to get that light a sentence and to not have already lost her job?
As a first offender she got treated fairly. But she was lucky, 99% of first offender DUI offenders do not get treated fairly. Mainly blame Chase Leonhard and his negative personality...I don't know the guy. Yes, DUI offenders should be punished and the message needs to be sent out that this crime will not be tolerated. HOWEVER, the first offender conviction rate is 98%...this is ridiculous. Even with court supervision the offender has been taught a harsh lesson on so many levels...but at least their future career has not been blighted by a permanent criminal record. Punish them, but don't ruin their life for it. If someone is a repeat offender then I'm sorry, no excuses, hit them hard and convict them....but for a first offender who made the mistake and will likely never make it again, court supervision should be granted. Champaign County has issues and Illinois State Government has even biger ones unfortunately.
if only you folks knew what I know about L.S. & some of the other officers in C-U from 1st hand experience you wouldn't be defending her or any of them in this situation.
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