Seattle Police Sergeant David Abe has apparently chosen to retire in lieu of being fired by the Seattle Police Department. Sergeant Abe was a police officer for nearly 33 years. The decision was made after an internal investigation found misconduct in Sergeant Abe’s supervision of DUI arrests; an audit found dozens of SPD DUI cases were mishandled.

The investigation that lead to Sergeant Abe’s demise apparently focused on allegations that he repeatedly failed to report to work and provided a rubber stamp to officers to affix his approval on their arrest reports. In a June report, the department found that two officers in the DUI Unit routinely used a signature stamp without having a sergeant approve their arrests as is required by way of department policy. One officer even noted in his written reports that his DUI arrests had been screened or otherwise approved even though no actual review had occurred. Recently a Seattle Municipal Court judge ruled that the violation could be brought up during cross examination of the officer in DUI cases he has handled. The intent of such an action would be to impeach the officer while he was on the stand; in other words, to call his integrity into question.

Because of the significant implications a DUI arrest and/or conviction can have, it is imperative that a person charged with DUI in Washington State immediately retain a qualified Seattle DUI lawyer or a qualified Bellevue DUI lawyer. In many instances, a qualified Seattle DUI lawyer can significantly reduce the impact that a DUI charge will have on an individual’s life. The right Seattle DUI attorney will be worth his/her weight in gold when protecting a person’s rights, freedom and future. The Seattle DUI attorneys that make up the litigation team of SQ Attorneys are dedicated to defending those accused of drunk driving. They have the experience, knowledge and resources to successfully defend your case. Unlike other law firms that practice in many areas of the law, SQ Attorneys is focused on criminal defense representation with an emphasis on DUI defense in Western Washington.

If you or a loved one is faced with a DUI charge in Western Washington, you deserve the assistance of a reputable and qualified Seattle DUI attorney who will relentlessly defend your case. You deserve a Seattle DUI lawyer who has an intimate understanding of Washington DUI laws and the legal issues that could win your case. You deserve a Seattle DUI defense attorney who is not afraid to stand up against the prosecution and aggressively fight for your rights and interests. SQ Attorneys is the right Western Washington DUI law firm for the job. Call for a free initial consultation – (206) 441.0900 (Seattle); (425) 998-8384 (Eastside) – it will be the best decision you make all day.