Fort Worth DWI officer arrested in Westlake on suspicion of drunken driving

Posted Thursday, Jan. 03, 2013 0 comments  Print Reprints
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By Deanna Boyd

dboyd@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH -- A Fort Worth police officer assigned to DWI enforcement was arrested early Wednesday in Westlake on suspicion of drunken driving, Keller police reported.

Officer Nicolas Ramirez, 32, was immediately placed on restricted duty and reassigned from the traffic division, where he had worked as a DWI enforcement officer since August, Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead said in a news release Wednesday afternoon.

"Our organization works hard to keep our streets safe during all holidays. It is extremely troubling that one of our police officers, especially a DWI enforcement officer, has been arrested in this manner," Halstead said.

Halstead apologized for the officer's poor judgment. "Our residents can be assured that this matter will be handled expeditiously and to their expectations," he said.

Ramirez was pulled over shortly before 1 a.m. in the 1700 block of Texas 114 after a Keller officer running radar spotted a Ford Explorer weaving out of its traffic lane, according to Lt. Brenda Slovak, a Keller police spokeswoman.

Westlake contracts with Keller for police service.

Ramirez failed a field sobriety test at the scene, Slovak said.

He was taken to the city jail where two breathalyzer tests were administered. They recorded his blood alcohol content at 0.188 and 0.194, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, Slovak said.

Because the breath tests indicated that Ramirez's BAC level was above 0.15, the officer faces a Class A misdemeanor DWI charge punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Ramirez was released from jail after posting $500 bail, Slovak said.

Ramirez has been on the Fort Worth force for four years. He turned in his gun and badge and is not authorized to act as a peace officer pending the outcome of an administrative investigation, Halstead's news release stated.

Since 2008, 19 Fort Worth officers have been arrested in alcohol-related incidents, including one who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for a fatal wreck.

Last month, Halstead demoted Maj. Paul Henderson to captain and stripped him of his chief of staff position after Henderson was arrested in Parker County on suspicion of DWI.

Deanna Boyd, 817-390-7655

Twitter: @deannaboyd

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