Now former Lakeland Police Department Detective Billy Joe Lane has now formally "retired" from law enforcement as a consequence of his September, 2014 misdemeanor "simple" DUI arrest ("retired" is in quotes because Billy Joe only turned in his badge after a disciplinary investigation and review had recommended that he lose his $65,847-a-year job for "Unlawful Conduct" and "Conduct Unbecoming").
Apparently Billy Joe was so banged up that when he was asked for his driver license, registration and insurance "he pulled out his bank card and tried to hand it to me", or so the arresting deputy wrote in his police report. Per the arresting Deputy, during a sobriety test, Billy Joe was unable to walk in a straight line, almost fell over twice and the deputy had to stop the exercise out of fear that Billy Joe might fall and hurt himself. Billy Joe's BAC was .197 and .188.
I know that Billy Joe was trashed because almost no rational / thinking police officer who had been drinking would either take FSTs (field sobriety tests) or provide a breath sample. Simply put: They know better.
The silver lining for Billy Joe: This was his first arrest (as an arrestee anyhow), he was off duty, in his own personal vehicle and no one was injured by his foolish choice to drive after drinking enough to be legally intoxicated and functionally impaired.
Anyone can get a DUI, and law enforcement (cops, prosecutors and Judges) and lawmakers (municipal, state or federal) should be held to a higher standard. There is no room for "bad" cops, who must "go", but an effective potential professional death penalty (resignation in lieu of termination) for a first time misdemeanor offender who has caused no harm is, to my mind, overkill.
Memo to the Lakeland P.D.'s Disciplinary Review Committee: Unless you know something that wasn't reported (which I would be interested in knowing) then I suspect that there were more reasonable ways to deal with this situation than effectively canning this guy's career. It appears from the article that Billy was an otherwise good cop. Apart from having received the top 2013 Detective honors for solving two human trafficking cases and an investigation of counterfeit DVD's imported from China, Billy Joe appears to have honorably served his community as a cop for 19 years, and that should be worth more than a "simple" DUI.
When it comes to the subject of drinking and driving, the best advice that you are ever going to hear is: "Don't do it! Get a DD (Designated Driver), not a DUI".
Be smart{er than former Lakeland Police Department Detective Billy Joe Lane}: Don't drink and drive, but, if you do, just say "NO{thing}", don't blow (in FL your 2nd subsequent refusal is a crime) and call me stat at 305-381-8686, 305-798-2220, **ARRESTED, **305DUI, **MIAMIDUI, **MIAMILAW or **HABERLAW.
Michael A. Haber, P.A.: Providing creative criminal defense litigation services primarily in SoFlo since 1991.
At Michael A. Haber, P.A. "Its all about reasonable doubt"!
Michael A. Haber, Esq. is prepared to speak with you about your case!
1-888-SHARK-8-1, 305-381-8686, 305-798-2220, **ARRESTED, **305DUI, **MIAMIDUI, **MIAMILAW or **HABERLAW.
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