OKC police chief addresses DUI arrest of captain
An Oklahoma City police captain was arrested Sunday on suspicion of DUI, and on Thursday Police Chief Wade Gourley announced an investigation into the incident is underway.
About 1:40 a.m. Sunday, James “Matt” French was seen speeding and swerving between lanes in a black Chevrolet Traverse along S May Avenue, according to a police report. The arresting officer conducted a traffic stop as French pulled into a neighborhood without signaling and then parked in a private driveway.
The arresting officer also wrote that French's breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were watery and his speech was slurred.
In body camera footage released by police Thursday, French identified himself as an Oklahoma City police captain.
French told the arresting officer he drank “three or four” beers at a poker game about midnight. French also asks the arresting officer to turn his camera off several times. The arresting officer told French he wouldn't turn his camera off until he had completed his investigation and that he would not afford him special treatment. The officer conducted a series of field sobriety tests, which French failed. He was arrested on complaint of driving under the influence and failing to signal a turn.
On Thursday, Gourley said French was placed on administrative leave with pay “the moment we were notified of the incident.” An administrative investigation will be conducted separately from a criminal investigation, the chief said. “Once criminal charges are filed, per our (Fraternal Order of Police) contract, we do what's called a predetermination hearing to then put that person on leave without pay,” Gourley said. “There is a process we have to go through.”
Gourley also said the arresting officer followed protocol and “did exactly as he should have and handled it very professionally.”
The police chief said he would not speculate openly about why French asked the officer to turn the camera off so many times, but said that, per police procedures, “once the incident is over and he's completed what he's doing, he is allowed to turn the camera off.”