Pacific police chief pleads not guilty to DUI; mayor keeps him on the job

Published 12:42 pm Thursday, August 14, 2008

PACIFIC — The police chief of the Pierce County town of Pacific is back at work after pleading not guilty to drunken driving.

Fifty-five-year-old John Calkins said little during his arraignment Wednesday in Bonney Lake Municipal Court.

His lawyer, Kenneth W. Fornabai, says a police stop of Calkins was illegal and a breath test was administered improperly. Fornabi and Pacific Mayor Rich Hildreth say the case should be dismissed.

Judge Pro Tem Sandra Allen, however, ruled that there is probable cause to move the case forward.

Calkins was charged with drunken driving after he was stopped by Bonney Lake police in his 2007 Corvette on Aug. 5.

He has been police chief in Pacific for eight years. Hildreth says Calkins can remain on the job while the court case is pending.

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Information from: The News Tribune, http://www.thenewstribune.com