A Denver Police Department officer charged with driving under the influence in Arapahoe County has become the third officer to be arrested in the past three weeks.
Eric Sellers, 54, was arrested Feb. 26 in Arapahoe County, according to court records. He also was charged with careless driving and possessing a weapon while intoxicated.
Sellers, who was hired in 1995, has been placed on a non-line assignment, said Sonny Jackson, a department spokesman.
Sellers is the second officer to be charged with driving under the influence. A third officer was charged with a misdemeanor assault in connection with a domestic violence case.
In October, Chief Robert White to address substance abuse within the ranks after a rash of alcohol-related arrests involving officers.
The goal is to help officers cope with the violence, poverty and other harsh things they see on their jobs. It promises confidentiality and comes with assurance that officers will not jeopardize their careers by asking for help.
Supervisors are trained to spot troubled officers and are supposed to refer them for help.
The recent arrests are not a reflection of the resiliency program’s effectiveness, Jackson said.
Commanders have reviewed the three officers’ work performance and did not find any red flags that would have indicated problems, Jackson said.
“We don’t see anything we missed,” Jackson said. “The program is working, and we’re better off with it than without it.”
Earlier this week, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he was involved in an off-duty accident in Green Valley Ranch.
And , 54, was charged Feb. 24 with third-degree assault in Commerce City.
Keita and Parro also are on non-line assignments, pending their investigations.
