The old saying “it could happen to you” can relate to almost any aspect of life. However, these days, it seems more and more likely to apply to the fact that, with any small misstep, a Philadelphia resident could be arrested and face prosecution.

Unfortunately for one local resident, that was the case earlier this month when she was arrested on drunk driving charges after a minor car accident on a local road. Even more unfortunate for the accused woman, however, is that she is a Philadelphia police officer — and has been for the last 14 years.

The officer, who was off duty at the time of her arrest, reportedly failed a Breathalyzer test. She will now most likely be looking for a good Philadelphia DUI attorney prior to her next court hearing early next month.

Many of our Philadelphia readers may know someone who finds their job in jeopardy almost immediately after a DUI arrest. It seems that society forgets that an arrest does not equal a conviction. There is a well-established legal process an accused individual works through to ensure their rights are protected. This police officer did not immediately lose her job, but she is now confined to “desk duty” until the criminal justice process plays out.

During the course of a traffic stop, there are numerous policies and procedures that an arresting officer must comply with while conducting sobriety tests. Any mistake in the process, no matter how small, could call the charges into question. For this Philadelphia police officer, the criminal defense strategy she follows could be crucial in determining whether or not she will get to keep her job serving our community.

Source: NBC Philadelphia, “Philly Cop Faces DUI Charge,” Dan Stamm, Oct. 2, 2012