Georgia Police Chief Arrested for DUI

Milledgeville Police Chief Dray Swicord, 52, was arrested for an alleged DUI on August 18, 2018. Swicord was originally pulled over by the Georgia State Patrol for driving with his bright lights on while driving his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck. The stop occurred on Georgia Route 243 near Ivey. Swicord was off duty at the time of the traffic stop.

As Georgia State Patrol Trooper First Class Tyler G. Gay approached the truck, he smelled the odor of alcohol coming from inside of the vehicle. He also observed that the police chief's eyes were watery and bloodshot and his speech was slurred.

Swicord agreed to submit to a preliminary breath test, which was above the legal limit. He was then arrested at the scene. On two later occasions that night, Swicord asked to be breath tested again, and both requests were granted. He also provided a blood sample at the law enforcement center. That sample was sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory in Macon for alcohol testing. The results have not yet been released.

As a result of his arrest, Swicord's job could be in trouble. He has been suspended for two weeks without pay, and he also will have to take a pay cut for six months after completing the term of his suspension. The city manager of Milledgeville has stated that Swicord must complete all terms and conditions of his two-year probation term imposed by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.).

Swicord appeared before a judge on November 8, 2018, and pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). A bench trial is set for December 13, 2018.

Effects on Your Employment

A DUI arrest can be scary, and cause plenty of problems for you down the road. While the most pressing of these may be the loss of your license and criminal penalties, the effect on your job is a factor you must consider.

Many positions, especially those in the public sector, can be greatly affected by a criminal conviction, even for a misdemeanor charge such as most DUI's. If your DUI results in a felony, often the effects are considerably worse.

Knowing What to Do

Every case is different, and every job has different requirements. After a DUI arrest, you should speak with your Georgia DUI defense attorney and tell him or her

• where you are employed,
• any special licenses you hold (e.g., nursing or teaching license),
• any known restrictions that will be imposed as the result of a DUI conviction, and
• whether you have disclosed your pending DUI charges to your employer.

Another way to help your attorney understand the effects of a conviction on your job is your employee handbook. Provide a copy to your attorney and he or she can review it to help you understand what you face.

Consult a Georgia DUI Attorney

You do not have to face the DUI process alone. With experienced help, you can make informed and confident decisions about your future. There are defenses which may be raised on your behalf.

An experienced Georgia DUI attorney can defend your case and protect your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation.