Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Officer Michael Couch Accused of Drunk Driving Pleads to a Lesser Charge

An Orangetown police officer accused of driving drunk in Florida has pleaded to a lesser charge, as the cost and methods of investigating the incident involving him and other officers is being questioned by town and police union officials.

The incident in November led Orangetown to spend about $30,000 on an investigation by a Westchester law firm, the town supervisor said today.

Two of the five officers in the car - including a lieutenant - were suspended for a week with pay by the Town Board and penalized upon reinstatement.

The investigation increased hard feelings toward the police administration by many officers, an Orangetown police union official said.

The only officer charged in Florida by police there was Michael Couch, who drove the car. He was with other town officers on a golfing vacation.

Couch's Florida lawyer, Donald Day, said today that Couch this week pleaded no contest to reckless driving, a violation.

Read more about this story tomorrow in The Journal News.

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