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NEW PORT RICHEY — Officer Christopher Sutherlin, accused last week of fleeing an accident in which he was driving drunk, resigned from the police force this week.
Sutherlin, 30, cited recent events and personal reasons in a letter Tuesday to Chief Martin Rickus. His resignation was effective immediately.
Sutherlin, who had been on the job less than a year, got off work about 9 p.m. Oct. 27. Early the next morning, he rear-ended a pickup on U.S. 19 north of Main Street and sped away, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The pickup's driver followed until Sutherlin was forced to pull over because of front-end damage to the Nissan pickup he was driving, FHP said.
Troopers arrested Sutherlin on charges of leaving the scene of an accident and later gave him a Breathalyzer test, which registered blood alcohol levels of 0.148 and 0.151 blood-alcohol level. Florida law presumes a driver impaired at 0.08.
Altogether, he faces charges of DUI, two counts of DUI with personal injury, DUI with property damage and leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries.
The police department began an internal investigation of the incident, which also involved Officer Joseph Pascalli, who was riding with Sutherlin.
Lt. Scott Baker said the investigation of both officers' conduct will continue. Pascalli, who had been part of the department's DUI unit, is now working the midnight shift on patrol.
Sutherlin had accrued 72 hours of unused vacation time, which will be paid out to him for a total of about $1,300.
Joshua Vitori, who was driving the pickup Sutherlin struck, suffered minor injuries. Vitori, 26, is a former paramedic for Pasco County. He also resigned from his job last week, following his arrest Oct. 25 on accusations he stole $300 from a patient in his ambulance.
Molly Moorhead can be reached at moorhead@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6245.
[Last modified: Nov 11, 2008 07:12 PM]
Comments on this article
by Donna
Nov 11, 2008 7:12 PM
This is so sad. He (Sutherlin) is so young and has such a serious problem. I hope that he goes into a long rehab to get his life straightened out. Alcoholism is a horrid disease-anyone-even peace officers can suffer from it. There is help.
by Cheryl
Nov 11, 2008 1:40 PM
And again I have to mention...How nobody has commented on the many drug dealers, gang members and violent criminals these boys have gotten off the streets...to make OUR city safer. Only the ONE mistake they made.
by Cheryl
Nov 11, 2008 1:40 PM
Jenn,
You are absolutely right.. People forget to realize, just because they take an oath to be a police officer does not mean that they are no longer human. EVERYONE makes mistakes...
He has is being punished everyday not doing what he loves
by Griffin
Nov 9, 2008 11:33 AM
Thanks for disgracing your brothers/sisters in blue! I hope they revoke your certificate, and to your passenger, you should be ashamed and dismissed too!
by jenn
Nov 9, 2008 11:32 AM
You people are amazing, they made mistakes like we all have isn't it enough that Sutherlin has lost what he loved doing and is paying the price. I think they are both GREAT guys that screwed up and they are now living with the Consequences.
by Homerdogg
Nov 7, 2008 10:20 PM
Getting so you can't swing a dead-drunk without hitting a thief in Pasco! What a love-ly place to live.
by Vinny
Nov 7, 2008 8:30 PM
A thieving paramedic rear-ended by a drunken deputy. Only in Pasco county.
by :)
Nov 7, 2008 8:20 PM
Tom, You are right, these guys are asses. Please though, dont judge all younger folks by the actions of these fools. There are some AWESOME youth in our community. I know alot of them and they are worthy of respect.
by ALDO
Nov 7, 2008 11:56 AM
I THINK THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TELEVIZED ..HOW WE HAD TO CALL OUT TO GET THE JOB DONE,,.REAL STORIES OF THE HWY PATROL..SOUNDS GOOD TO ME,,TELL THE WORLD HOW THE LOCAL POLICE DEPT RESPONDS TO EACH OTHER .AND HOW MANY OF THEM HAD RESIGND FOR THIS OR T
by shame
Nov 7, 2008 11:55 AM
all i can say is thank god for the state trooper that called a un local police dept, or these guys would be laughing right now EXCELLENT JOB TROOPER...and we thank you,,,we have pretty much have givin up on our local police depts.
by kevin
Nov 7, 2008 11:54 AM
What a great bunch of losers these guys are. now we can wait for Pascalli to resign also. let's hire some boys with class the next time.
by Jon
Nov 7, 2008 11:52 AM
Sounds like the city needs to look at some sort of monitoring program for the police department.
by Tom
Nov 7, 2008 11:50 AM
Are you kidding me!!!So the cops that are out busting everyone else for dui's are out getting hammered and leaving the scene of a crime! nice example for our youth.And the guy that got hit, some more of NPRs fine talented youth.
by fl
Nov 7, 2008 11:31 AM
It may just be time that pasco starts giving training to their HR departments. Whatever hiring practices they are following obviously are worthless.
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