Petaluma Cop Charged With DUI Cuts Plea Deal

A Petaluma police officer charged with driving under the influence on Tuesday pleaded no contest to a lesser alcohol-related reckless driving charge.

Officer Ryan McGreevy was involved in a motor-scooter accident at a Petaluma Police Department-sponsored golf tournament in October that triggered the probe.

McGreevy had according to published reports been honored for his work on DUI cases by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an advocacy group promoting tougher enforcement of DUI laws.

McGreevy was not present in a Sonoma County courtroom when attorney Mike Li made the plea on his behalf, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.   

A California Highway Patrol investigation was the basis for the prosecution against McGreevy.

“Though serious, this isolated event does not diminish the exceptional service to our community that our officers provide to our residents, businesses and visitors on a daily basis,” Petaluma Police Chief Patrick Williams said in a prepared statement.

There is no indication that the incident will affect McGreevy's status with the Petaluma Police Department.

He faces an internal administrative hearing that Lt. Tim Lyons said could lead to disciplinary action.

“At the conclusion of a separate administrative investigation into Officer McGreevy’s conduct and the events surrounding the allegations that led to his DUI prosecution, the Petaluma Police Department will take the appropriate action in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements, the City of Petaluma Personnel Rules and State law as outlined in the Peace Officer Bill of Rights,” Lyons said.

“The outcome of the administrative process is confidential under state law.”

McGreevy was sentenced to two years probation and fined $850, according to the Press Democrat report. Under terms of the plea deal, he can't drive with any “measurable” alcohol in his system and must complete classes for what the reports describes as a “wet reckless.”

Hospital records showed that McGreevy's blood alcohol level was 0.11 percent in tests taken four hours after his crash, according to the Press Democrat report. The legal limit is 0.8.

Prosecutors cited evidentiary problems with the handling of blood samples as a key factor in agreeing to reduced charges, according to the report.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Staebell told the Press Democrat hospital blood tests aren't considered to be as accurate as those administered by police.

“McGreevy being a law enforcement officer had nothing to do with it,” Staebell said.

“This was a good disposition given that he could have had his license suspended. With a DUI conviction, it might affect his job worse than a wet-reckless would.”