Speakeasy forum: Highway Patrol troupers charged with

How would they know for certain that the man was drunk without doing a sobriety test.

If he smells like alcohol and he acts like he's drunk...he's drunk?

Are you suggesting there could have been a medical problem AND/OR alcohol problems? Perhaps all police cars should have a doctor on board?

They shouldn't have left the drunk unattended.

Civilians/bartenders/waiters have been charged with serving too much alcohol...what's the difference between that and leaving a drunk to go where he pleases (after YOU took him into your control).

The troupers said he appeared to be drunk but he wasn't tested and, stagger and slur as he may, no law here could have convicted him. So we must think the troupers were doing one of two things. They were either trying to give him a break or were just being lazy. You can decide which of the two or make up your own idea. Obviously, if trying to be nice and cut the guy some slack, their choice turned out bad. Maybe they need training on how to be meaner.

Lt. Anne Ralston, a spokeswoman for the State Highway Patrol, said Carpenter has been placed on administrative duties and is working out of the district headquarters in Columbus. "That means no badge, no gun, no uniform, no ID card, no car," Ralston said. The deputies are on paid leave.
From the Columbus Dispatch.

Here in NM the Santa Fe line runs through the Navajo res, and a common occurrence is suicide-by-train. They get drunk and lie down on the tracks. Engineer hasn't time to stop a mile-long train moving at 25-55 mph depending. The crews are affected but there's no preventing it. I wonder if the vic here had a similar idea.