SEATTLE, March 22 (UPI) -- The Seattle Police Department has put most of its drunk driving squad on desk duty while allegations of misconduct are investigated.
One of the allegations is that Sgt. David Abe, who was supposed to approve all driving under the influence arrests, did so by telephone, The Seattle Times reported. The other officers in the DUI Squad used a rubber stamp to put his name on documents.
The City Attorney's Office is reviewing many DUI cases.
Sgt. Rich O'Neill, president of the Seattle Police Officer's Guild, dismissed the problem Monday as an "administrative paperwork snafu." He said Abe, 56, a longtime police veteran, had been dealing with serious illness in his family and has been taking a lot of time off after 30 years without a sick day.
"The supervisor involved has been going through hell, and I think some compassion is in order," O'Neill said.
Abe and three other officers in the five-officer unit have been reassigned temporarily with other officers shifted to the unit.
The unit, which works at night, includes two officers trained to detect drivers under the influence of drugs.
