Three Aurora Officers Charged with Drunk Driving

AURORA, Ohio

Three police officers in three years, charged with drunk driving, all from the same department.

Sgt. Dirk Piggot, a 24 year veteran of the Aurora Police Department was pulled over for weaving by the State Highway Patrol on March 13th. It happened just north of Columbus.

The Mayor of Aurora, Lynn McGill, told FOX 8's Kristy Steeves that Piggot refused a breathalizer test so his driver's license was immediately suspended.

Residents in Aurora were shocked and disappointed when they heard the news. "I think it's appalling. Obviously a bad example for the citizens of the community which they serve and endangers the citizens of the community in which they serve," said Walter Crate, an Aurora resident.

Mary Allard reacted to the news by saying, "I think he should be removed from the job. He's in charge of everybody and he's supposed to make our streets safe but if he isn't doing his job".

Piggot, who was off duty at the time of his arrest, is the second Aurora police officer in three months to get stopped for an OVI.

In December 41-year-old Scott Garan was pulled over in Kent for erratic driving. Records show he refused all of the sobriety tests and was charged with OVI and criminal damaging.

Those charges came on the heels of him being named Aurora's Top OVI Enforcer at the Portage County MADD banquet in October.

The mayor says Garan ended up resigning from the police department. As for Sgt. Piggot, the mayor says right now, he's on unpaid leave.

Nadine Kotcz, who lives in Aurora, had this to say: "You can't make exceptions whether someone is a police officer or not. I think if it's something that's not right they should be treated like everyone else."

Three years ago a lieutentant was arrested for drunk driving. He's now back on basic patrol. As for Piggot, the mayor says he's just one year shy of retiring. The mayor says if Sgt. Piggot is convicted, he will be disciplined. "We don't coddle people here," said McGill.

Mayor McGill says the drunk driving arrests "gives the city, the department, and the mayor a black eye."

Mayor McGill told FOX 8 that the police officers are cautioned every day about not drinking and driving. "They know better," he said, adding, "There's no excuse, but to be a police officer, you're impared, you don't drive."

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