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For the vast majority of us, getting a DUI doesn't mean we lose our job. Should cops be treated differently? (AP Photo/File)

Is there any way these cops should keep their jobs?

BY Dori Monson  on March 8, 2013 @ 12:49 am (Updated: 6:19 am - 3/8/13 )

Dori writes...

Is there any job where judgement is more important than being a cop?

We give them the power of deadly force - and trust them to be wise and judicious every day in every way when our paths may cross.

I have the greatest respect for good cops - and the vast majority are good. But I'm troubled by the many stories of officers who exhibit horrible judgement in their personal lives and yet keep their jobs.

A recent example is the Bellevue cops who were so stinking drunk at a Seahawks game, their screamed obscenities got them kicked out of the stadium - and then one drove home to North Bend and was blacked-out - he says he didn't remember driving.

Those officers got a slap on the wrist. It is a horrible reflection on the Bellevue P.D.

But it's not that surprising. We've had a state Supreme Court justice, members of the legislature, a school superintendent, city and county council members who have all driven drunk - and kept their jobs.

And then there's the story of the two Seattle cops who were charged Thursday with DUI.

Officers Marie Gochnour, 32 and Sean Moore, 42, were driving together on Dec. 17 when someone saw their car hit a power pole.

According to the charging papers, these cops weren't just drunk - they were stinking drunk. Gochnour registered triple the legal limit - .247 percent. Moore was double the legal limit at .161 percent.

A witness says Gochnour was driving the car - then she stopped in the middle of the street and switched places with Moore - so both have been charged with DUI.

Officer Gochnour really sounds like a sweetheart. The court documents say she cursed at the arresting officer - then, at the station, gave him the finger and twice tried to rush the arresting officer.

These two examples of Seattle's finest have been getting paid since the December incident. They've both been reassigned to desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

If they are guilty of the behavior described in the charging papers, is there any way we can trust these two to remain as police officers? If they cannot control their own lives, can we really afford to give them the power of deadly force to have some control over our lives?

For the vast majority of us, getting a DUI doesn't mean we lose our job. Should cops be treated differently?

I find it appalling that those drunken, out-of-control Bellevue cops are still on the force. I have police officer friends who share those feelings. Good cops tend to be very harsh in their attitude toward cops who exhibit bad behavior and horrible judgement.

The two Seattle cops endangered the lives of everyone with whom they shared the roads last December. One week before Christmas, they could have easily killed your spouse, your children, you.

We've been paying them for three months while they sit at a desk. If they're guilty of these charges, should it be one-strike-you're-out for police officers?

Dori Monson, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dori Monson is host of The Dori Monson Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays Noon-3) and the pre-game and post-game host for the Seattle Seahawks Radio Network. There are three words that Dori thinks best describe him - competitive, competitive and competitive.
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Comments (20)


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  • crafty_lexi wrote...
    Yes.
    March 8, 2013 6:37 am
    Being a little drunk is one thing that maybe can be forgiven. Being skunk drunk and behaving so poorly, yes, fire them. Look, if I was on the news, getting arrested wearing my company's shirt, I'd expect to get in trouble at work. Sure, your work life is separate from your personal life. Unless and/or until your personal life negatively affects your job/company.
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  • po_guy wrote...
    Any job
    March 8, 2013 8:17 am
    that entails driving a company vehicle, should and does mean that your private driving record reflects your company driving record. If I got any accident, ticket, or other situation concerning my driving while in my provate vehicle, it was considered on my company record also. Always faced the possibility of being fired if I messed up off the job while driving.
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  • mpblue wrote...
    You know what I would say
    March 8, 2013 6:49 am
    And that is resounding NO. Of course, I am in the extreme minority among peers in demanding that first responders have yearly drug and alcohol tests to maintain their certifications and that a DUI conviction should be grounds for immediate revocation of a peace officer certification in Washington state. But too many unions and guilds oppose that so here we are . . .
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  • Cash wrote...
    Both of these Officers should have been fired immediately
    March 8, 2013 6:52 am
    There is no doubt that both of these Officers should have been fired immediately that evening. I always hear the excuse that they will win their jobs back and get back pay. Great let them fight it and get their back pay instead of just paying them to find out 3 years later when everything is done that they will be fired...

    I beleive each case has different circumstances and this case clearly has extreme obvious aggravating factors that can be considered outside of the criminal action. Based on these obvious factors yes I believe the female should have been immediatley fired and booked. The male appears to have been cooperative but still an obvious liability.

    I fully agree that a police officer should be held to a higher standard; both on and off duty period. I also believe each case can be different such as the BPD case at the stadium. I understand why the guy was not arrested because there are key pieces of evidence missing such as witnesses and being caught and tested within 2 hours of driving etc... but that does not mean they can't be held to professional conduct standard and fired. The evidence in the BPD case is not allowed in criminal court but clearly acceptable in a standards violation review. The Officers in that case put themselves on-duty the second they identified themselves as Officers and displayed badges. In non extreme cases I believe there is room for forgiveness but each case needs to be fully reviewed and all factors considered.

    Now lets add to the list of people who get a free pass for multple DUI arrests to include a special retired sports star and on-air broadcaster. There is a guy who works on the Seahawks broadcast and is friends with Dori who has also received at least two DUI's but since he is rich and popular he was able to escape justice on both of them just like the rest of the people who can buy their way out of it so it is not just a cop or judge thing. The criminal system for DUI is broken; for both cops/judges/lawyers etc but for just about everyone who can afford to pay a DUI attorney.

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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Cash
    March 8, 2013 9:09 am
    No you don't FIRE anyone until they are found guilty and then only if its a fireable offense according to the contract the Union has with the City.I'm sure it not agreeable to most who post on this Blog but thats reality and thats FAIR remember the Contract was AGREED on by BOTH parties. Personally if I were a Police Chief and no Union existed I would Fire them Both after they were found Guilty.If found innocent of DUI I may still fire them for bringing discredit to the department and not being able to control themselves
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  • Cash wrote...
    101
    March 8, 2013 10:11 am
    I respectfully disagree; I don't think the union can demand the police chief not fire anyone for cause. There are several processes in place that make it way more complicated than it should be and tons of protections in place. For behavior like this is more than just discredit but it is costing the taxpyers; to prosecute them and to backfill their positions. Someone has to fill in their positions while they give them busy work to justify their pay. They were in violation of at least two different oaths of office and they should be the ones that have to fight to get their jobs back, it was their alledged criminal behavior that got them into this mess, it should be on them to argue to get their jobs back. Or at least that is the way it should be.
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  • Raymong wrote...
    How about this
    March 8, 2013 2:02 pm
    put them on the beach without pay, the evidence is there to support that action without the courts findings.If somehow they are found not guilty, pay them for those days lost but not for any preceived O.T. I think unions have thier place but it seems that they have been given them to much power, that can be fixed with the next contract radification. Having said that, I agree I would fire them for the discredit they have brought upon the force.
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  • Truhawk wrote...
    More strict?
    March 8, 2013 8:45 am
    I would settle for cops being punished AS strictly as the general public! The only reason they got in trouble is accident itself. Although, I must admit, I am seeing more police officers arrest their bretheren for DUI, when in the past they would more often look the other way. I hope the trend of not letting bad cops hide behond their badge continues to improve!
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  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    I am with Truhawk
    March 8, 2013 9:46 am
    as long as we are holding cops to the SAME standard as Joe Public, or at least truck drivers and pilots that have a higher DUI standard.
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  • Ontos wrote...
    Dori
    March 8, 2013 11:44 am
    What you don't realize is this: One half of all cops are in AA. The other half should be.
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  • simp12 wrote...
    If they are convicted
    March 8, 2013 4:34 pm
    they should be fired. i work in the auto business and if I get convicted of DUI I will lose my job
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  • JH in SD wrote...
    Union v. Public Safety
    March 8, 2013 6:43 pm
    FDR was right....public employess should be unionized. Union contract 'rights' trump public safety nearly 100% of the time.
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  • Going south wrote...
    Yes...
    March 8, 2013 7:10 pm
    I am an USCG licensed Captain, if I get a DUI I lose my license for a very long time, if not for ever.... and thats my job....
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  • S Y wrote...
    DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO
    March 8, 2013 7:33 pm
    How can these cops go back to their job and arrest people for DUI after this?? Because they're scumbags and so is their union, if they allow this to happen. They have no scruples and neither does their union. I know I and a lot of the public are getting tired of hearing about these bad cops and their god amighty union. I know I'll not call 911, because when you do they might just send one of these knucklehead's on the call instead of one of the good ones, which there are many. You're better off taking care of the situation yourself. Union, buckle up and start firing your bad members, before the public starts firing at them.
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  • chubby wrote...
    I wonder . . .
    March 8, 2013 9:18 pm
    how many times Anne Bremner drove drunk before she was finally caught. Ask her next time you have her on your show, Dori. Hypocrite! And please, please, please start taking phone calls from listeners again. It is torture to listen to you banter with that pea brain producer, Jake. It's talk radio . . . the callers make the show!
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  • AKAF wrote...
    I agree with Chubby..
    March 8, 2013 9:45 pm
    While I love Jake, his jokes or joke answers to Dori's questions are not funny. It takes away from the show. Listener phone calls is missing. Bring back the phone calls!
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