Sun Valley Assistant Police Chief Mike Crawford remained on active duty this week after being charged last weekend with driving under the influence of alcohol.
"It's an employee matter and my only comment is Mike is here at work doing his job," Sun Valley Police Chief Cameron Daggett said Wednesday. "He's not found guilty. He's innocent until proven guilty and that's all we have to say."
Crawford was not arrested but was instead issued a citation charging him with misdemeanor DUI after he allegedly backed his pickup into another vehicle while attempting to park on Main Street in downtown Hailey the evening of Saturday, Aug. 11.
According to a Hailey police report, Crawford smelled of alcohol, failed field sobriety tests and registered a .17 blood-alcohol level when given a breath test at the Blaine County Public Safety Facility. The legal driving blood-alcohol limit in Idaho is .08.
Crawford faces arraignment on the charge on Aug. 27 in Blaine County Magistrate Court.
If convicted, Crawford could face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Idaho law also provides that a person convicted of a first-offense misdemeanor DUI shall lose driving privileges for at least 30 days.
Sun Valley Mayor Dewayne Briscoe said that no decision has been made regarding Crawford's status with the police department.
"I haven't gotten the total report on Mike Crawford," Briscoe said Wednesday. "I'm waiting for all the facts to come in and then I'll discuss it with the police chief."
Briscoe described Crawford as "an extremely competent police officer that's been with the police force a long time."
Crawford has served with Sun Valley police since 1991 and has been assistant police chief for about 10 years.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Mike Crawford
