Seattle police reassigns most of its DUI squad amid probe

Published 5:48 pm Monday, March 21, 2011

SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department has reassigned all but one member of its DUI squad amid an ongoing internal investigation into alleged mishandling of drunken driving arrests.

The department confirmed Monday that three of the squad’s four officers and its sergeant were pulled from their duties last week.

The Seattle Times reports that police say the investigation focuses on reports that the squad was not following department policy requiring supervisors to screen all arrests in person.

Seattle city attorney’s office spokeswoman Kimberly Mills says her office’s criminal division will conduct an individual analysis to determine whether any of its past or present DUI cases may be affected the investigation findings.

According to department statistics, the DUI squad arrests and processes more than 1,000 drivers annually.

The police department is currently under review by the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations of excessive force.