http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Common%2FMGArticle%2FPri...

Veteran police officer found guilty of DUI

BY ANDREW PRICE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
     
Sep 29, 2005

COLONIAL HEIGHTS -- A veteran Petersburg police officer was found guilty yesterday of driving under the influence in Colonial Heights.

Lt. Patrick J. Kelleher, 50, was also found guilty of refusing to take a breath test, but that charge was dropped when he agreed not to appeal the DUI charge in circuit court.

The 26-year veteran was found slumped over in the passenger seat of his truck with the vehicle running shortly after midnight on June 12 in the 200 block of Cameron Avenue.

The driver-side door was open and right, rear tire on the curb, testified Colonial Heights police officer Scott Whirley, who found Kelleher.

Whirley said when he woke Kelleher, his eyes were bloodshot, his face was red and he kept repeating that he was OK and that he was sorry.

Kelleher was "polite and cooperative," Whirley said.

Kelleher testified that he had six beers that evening over an eight-hour period -- four earlier in the night at a retirement party in Prince George County and two in Petersburg closer to the time of his arrest.

Kelleher said an argument with his son had caused severe heart pains. He took Xanax, as instructed by doctors, and said the last thing he remembers was putting the vehicle in park because "he couldn't drive any further with these chest pains."

Mike Jagels of Richmond was brought in as special prosecutor because Kelleher had previously conducted polygraph work for Colonial Heights.

Colonial Heights General District Judge Thomas L. Murphey issued a 12-month suspended jail sentence, three years probation, a $500 fine -- half of which was suspended, and revoked Kelleher's driver's license for one year.

Court proceedings also revealed Kelleher had a DUI conviction in Tennessee in 1998.

According to his attorney, Kelleher has been on suspension with Petersburg police. He did not comment as he left the courtroom.

Contact Andrew Price at (804) 524-9725 or aprice@timesdispatch.com

George:

What was your reason for posting this article. There are thousands of DUI arrests everyday so what is your point?

Kelleher testified that he had six beers that evening over an eight-hour period -- four earlier in the night at a retirement party in Prince George County and two in Petersburg closer to the time of his arrest.
 
Kelleher said an argument with his son had caused severe heart pains. He took Xanax, as instructed by doctors, and said the last thing he remembers was putting the vehicle in park because "he couldn't drive any further with these chest pains."

Contrary to what you and others think cops/polygraphers  don't revel in other people's  misery.  We might think that a person gets what they deserve but we don't relish it.  The guy got convicted of a DUI. He was wrong and will  do his punishement. Just can't see the newsworthiness of this.

You, as well as everyone knows that when a cop gets in legal hot water it becomes a sensationalized news story.  Cops get "cooked" in the news media for offenses that go untold when committed by ordinary citizens.  You being a retired officer should realize the fact that officers are held to a higher standard (goes with the oath).

Brandon:

Contrary to what you and others think cops/polygraphers  don't revel in other people's  misery.  We might think that a person gets what they deserve but we don't relish it.  The guy got convicted of a DUI. He was wrong and will  do his punishement. Just can't see the newsworthiness of this.