DEPUTY GETS SUSPENSION FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING

MUNCIE - A Delaware County sheriff's deputy received a 15-day
suspension without pay this week after he was arrested for drunken
driving this summer at an Indiana State Police "sobriety
checkpoint."

Ray A. Dudley, 39, also entered into a deferral program with the
Delaware County prosecutor's office for first-time offenders, and will
have the drunken driving charge erased after a year following
completion of the program.

The traffic stop resulted in formal misdemeanor charges of operating a
vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol
count of .08 or more. Dudley's BAC tested at .10 percent.

Sheriff George Sheridan Jr. said he issued the maximum suspension to
the deputy who had been a drug abuse resistance education (DARE)
officer for the department before the arrest. Dudley was taken off
road duty and reassigned to the sheriff's court security detail,
pending disposition of the case.

Sheridan described the punishment as appropriate and said Dudley would
be assigned regular duty upon his return. The sheriff reported no
other disciplinary action against the deputy who served since 1998.

As part of Dudley's probation, the deputy will have probationary
driving privileges for 180 days, limiting to driving for employment
with the sheriff's office and other medical emergencies or
court-ordered appointments.

Dudley also must participate and complete the county's community
corrections court alcohol and drug program within a year and complete
40 hours of community corrections through DCCC.

Besides the 180-day probationary driving privilege, Dudley also had a
90-day license suspension.

Attorney Mike Quirk, representing Dudley, said the deputy sought no
deals, cooperated with police and accepted the punishment.

ISP trooper Nicholas Hoffman reported Dudley cooperated throughout the
entire process, was apologetic and remorseful for his action. Dudley
was stopped June 22 at Broadway near Wabash Avenue.