When you’re a police officer, getting arrested for DWI doesn’t just mean facing criminal charges — it often means watching your entire career crumble before your eyes. The flashing lights, the handcuffs, the perp walk past your fellow officers — it’s every cop’s worst nightmare.
So, what actually happens when a police officer is arrested for DWI?
- First, you’re looking at immediate suspension or administrative leave while Internal Affairs launches their investigation.
- Then comes the criminal case, which prosecutors will pursue aggressively because they know the public is watching.
- Your peace officer license is on the line with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), and even if you beat the criminal charges, you could still lose your certification.
- Meanwhile, the media circus begins, your reputation takes a beating, and your superiors start treating you like a pariah. It’s a perfect storm that can destroy decades of dedicated service in a matter of months.
Here’s the brutal truth: if you’re a police officer facing DWI charges in Texas, you need more than just any DWI attorney in Houston — you need someone who has the firepower to take on the prosecutors who are looking to make an example out of you. Mark Thiessen and the team at Thiessen Law Firm have successfully defended police officers facing DWI charges, and they know exactly how to protect both your freedom and your badge.
Don’t let one mistake end your career. Call Thiessen Law Firm today at (713) 864-9000 and fight back.
What happens if a police officer gets arrested for DWI?
When a police officer gets arrested for DWI in Texas, they’re not just facing the same consequences as any other citizen — they’re dealing with a multi-front battle that attacks their career, reputation, and livelihood simultaneously. Here’s what you’re up against:
Immediate suspension or administrative leave
The moment you’re arrested for DWI as a police officer, your department will likely place you on administrative leave or suspend you pending the outcome of both the criminal case and internal investigation. This isn’t just a formality — it’s your agency’s way of protecting itself from liability and public scrutiny while the case plays out. Most departments have zero-tolerance policies when it comes to DWI arrests, and they’ll act swiftly to distance themselves from any potential embarrassment.
During this suspension period, you might be stripped of your badge, gun, and police powers, essentially leaving you in professional limbo. Some officers remain on paid leave initially, but don’t count on that lasting if the case drags on. The administrative leave can stretch for months or even years, depending on how long your criminal case takes to resolve. This means you could be sitting at home, watching your career hang in the balance, while legal proceedings crawl through the system at a snail’s pace.
Criminal case prosecution
Prosecutors love high-profile DWI cases involving police officers because they generate headlines and make the DA’s office look tough on crime. You can bet they’ll throw everything they have at your case, assigning their most experienced prosecutors and pursuing charges more aggressively than they would against a regular citizen. The political pressure to “hold law enforcement accountable” means you’re facing an uphill battle from day one.
What makes this even more challenging is that prosecutors know exactly how law enforcement operates — they work with cops every day, understand police procedures, and won’t be easily fooled by weak defense strategies. They’ll scrutinize every detail of your arrest, looking for ways to make your case an example of justice being blind.
This is precisely why learning how to fight a DWI becomes necessary for officers — you need defense strategies that can counter the prosecution’s insider knowledge and aggressive tactics. A cookie-cutter defense simply won’t cut it when the stakes are this high.
Peace officer license at risk with TCOLE
Even if you manage to beat the criminal DWI charges, your troubles are far from over. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) operates independently of the criminal courts and has its own standards for what constitutes conduct unbecoming of a peace officer. A DWI arrest alone — not even a conviction — can trigger a TCOLE investigation that could result in the suspension or revocation of your peace officer license.
TCOLE’s administrative proceedings follow different rules than criminal court, with a lower burden of proof and different procedural protections. They can take action based on the arrest itself, any plea agreements you enter, or administrative findings from your department’s internal investigation.
Losing your TCOLE certification means you can’t work in law enforcement anywhere in Texas, effectively ending your career even if you avoid jail time. This parallel track of consequences means you’re fighting battles on multiple fronts simultaneously, each with its own devastating potential outcomes.
Media attention and professional isolation
Once news of your DWI arrest hits the media — and it will — your reputation becomes public property. Local news outlets love police misconduct stories, and they’ll milk your case for every headline they can squeeze out of it. Your mugshot will be plastered across social media, your personal life will be dissected by strangers, and your family will bear the brunt of public scrutiny and judgment.
The professional isolation hits just as hard as the media attention. Fellow officers who once had your back might start avoiding you, worried about guilt by association or simply following department protocols about fraternizing with officers under investigation. The thin blue line that once protected you can quickly become a wall that shuts you out.
How to fight DWI charges (and win)
Just because you’re facing DWI charges as a police officer doesn’t mean your career is over. With an experienced Houston DWI attorney who understands the unique challenges facing law enforcement, you can fight these charges and protect both your freedom and your badge.
- Challenge the traffic stop and arrest procedures: Your attorney can scrutinize every aspect of your arrest to determine if your constitutional rights were violated or if proper procedures weren’t followed. If your rights were violated or corners were cut during your arrest, that evidence could be suppressed, potentially leading to a dismissal.
- Attack the reliability of breath and blood tests: Breathalyzers and blood tests are far from perfect. Your attorney can challenge everything from the calibration records of the testing equipment to the qualifications of the person who administered your test. Blood tests are particularly vulnerable due to chain of custody requirements, storage conditions, and potential contamination issues.
- Expose weaknesses in field sobriety tests: Your attorney can demonstrate how these tests don’t account for physical limitations, stress from being arrested as a fellow officer, or the unique circumstances surrounding your arrest.
- Leverage your professional reputation and character: Your attorney can present evidence of your years of faithful service, commendations, community involvement, and clean disciplinary record. Character witnesses from fellow officers, supervisors, and community members can testify to your integrity and dedication, creating reasonable doubt or convincing prosecutors to consider reduced charges.
- Negotiate for reduced charges that protect your career: Sometimes the best defense strategy involves negotiating a plea to lesser charges that won’t destroy your law enforcement career or considering pretrial diversion vs. deferred adjudication in Texas. Experienced DWI attorneys can often negotiate reductions to charges like reckless driving or obstruction of a highway — offenses that carry lighter penalties and may not trigger automatic TCOLE action.
- Prepare for trial with law enforcement expertise: An experienced DWI attorney will highlight your professionalism without suggesting you’re above the law, prepare you to testify confidently, and strategically use your law enforcement background to cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case.
The key is acting fast and fighting smart with an attorney who specializes in defending law enforcement officers. Don’t let one mistake destroy decades of dedicated service — fight back with a defense team that knows how to get a DWI dismissed in Texas and has the experience to protect your career and your future.
Learn more: Can a DWI be sealed in Texas?
Police officer arrested for DWI — FAQs
Can you be a police officer with a DWI in Texas?
Generally speaking, a DWI conviction will disqualify you from becoming a police officer in Texas, as most departments exclude candidates with recent criminal convictions. If you’re already a certified officer, the outcome depends on whether you’re convicted and your department’s policies, with TCOLE having the authority to suspend or revoke peace officer licenses for DWI convictions.
Do cops lose their jobs for DWI?
Many police officers do lose their jobs following DWI arrests due to department policies and public pressure, with most agencies placing officers on administrative leave immediately. However, some officers have successfully kept their jobs by beating the criminal charges or negotiating plea deals to lesser offenses that don’t trigger automatic termination.
How many cops get DWIs?
Police officers, like any other profession, can and do get arrested for DWI, though these cases receive significantly more media attention and public scrutiny than civilian arrests. What makes these cases particularly devastating is that even a single DWI arrest can end a decades-long career, regardless of an officer’s previous exemplary service record.
Protect your badge and your future with Thiessen Law Firm’s proven DWI defense
If you’re a police officer facing DWI charges in Texas, you’re not just fighting for your freedom — you’re fighting for everything you’ve worked to build. Your badge, your pension, your reputation, and your future are all on the line.
In other words, you need an attorney who understands law enforcement cases and isn’t afraid to take on the system when it turns against one of its own. At Thiessen Law Firm, Mark Thiessen and our team have successfully defended hundreds of challenging DWI charges, protecting both their freedom and their careers. We know how to challenge the evidence, negotiate with prosecutors, and fight TCOLE actions that threaten your livelihood.
Don’t go it alone and don’t trust your future to a general practice attorney who’s never handled a law enforcement DWI case. You’ve dedicated your life to serving others — now let us serve you. When a police officer is arrested for DWI in Texas, call Thiessen Law Firm today at (713) 864-9000 or contact us online. Your career is worth fighting for, and we know how to win.
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