Federal Corrections Officer Donnell White Arrested for Drunk Driving

A federal corrections officer arrested on suspicion of drunken driving allegedly told Vineland police, “too bad you can’t get killed like the Philly cops” — a reference to several officers in that city recently slain in the line of duty.

Donnell White, 34, of Cumberland Green Apartments in Millville, was charged late Thursday with driving while intoxicated, following a vehicle too closely, failure to maintain a lane, reckless driving, refusal to submit to a breath test and failure to exhibit a vehicle registration card.

White is a corrections officer at FCI Fairton in Fairfield, police said.

Police responded to Bennigan’s on West Landis Avenue at 10:40 p.m. Thursday for a report of a fight inside the restaurant. During the investigation, police interviewed White, who appeared to be intoxicated, said Vineland police Sgt. Vince Solazzo of the Traffic Safety Unit.

White told the investigating officers that his girlfriend could drive him home, according to a police report.

But, a short while later, police saw White driving out of the parking lot in a Ford Explorer, Solazzo said.

Police followed White’s vehicle — which they said was traveling at a high rate of speed — southbound on Route 55 before pulling the Explorer over near Sherman Avenue.

White failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, according to Solazzo.

At police headquarters, he refused to take a breath test, and then made the comment about the slain Philadelphia officers to the arresting officer, Sgt. Christopher Davis, Solazzo said.

In Philadelphia, seven police officers have died in the line of duty in less than three years.

While he was being processed, White also allegedly told police, “I know how to play this game. I’m going to tell them I have a drinking problem and I’ll be back to work in 30 days,” and then laughed out loud.

White was released to an acquaintance pending a hearing in Vineland Municipal Court.

Solazzo said Monday that White’s behavior was inappropriate, especially coming from a fellow law-enforcement officer.

“It’s unacceptable, and I’m hoping the FCI feels the same way I do,” he said.

“They’ve been through a lot,” Solazzo said of Philadelphia police. “We have officers who go to the funerals. It’s just not proper. We will be monitoring this case closely.”