Delray Beach Fire Rescue division chief arrested on DUI charges

DELRAY BEACH – South Florida lawenforcement was warned Thursday night to be on the lookout for a vehicle driving on Interstate 95 with a flat tire.

When a Florida Highway Patrol trooper pulled over the SUV that matched the description from the BOLO, it was a white Ford Explorer with City of Delray Beach Fire Rescue insignia on it— and it had more than a flat tire.

The back tire on the left side was completely gone and the Suvwas sitting on its rim, according to an FHP arrest report.

And behind the wheel, the only person in the vehicle, was Robert Hoecherl, a Delray Beach Fire Rescue division chief. Itwas about 8 p. m.

The 62- year- old’s speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. His breath smelled of alcohol, the arrest report said.

Hoecherl was arrested for misdemeanor driving under the influence near Gateway Boulevard in Boynton Beach.

He refused a breath test when he was booked into thepalmbeach County jail close to midnight, records show.

Hoecherl was released on his own recognizance at 4: 51 a. m. Friday.

He is scheduled to be in court Nov. 4 at the Palm Beach South County Courthouse in Delray Beach.

Hoecherl hasworked as a division chief for Delray Beach Fire Rescue since May 2018.

Before that he put in close to 30 years with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.

Hoecherl served as the Fort Lauderdale’s interim fire chief from early 2013 until he officially was appointed to the position by the city manager in October of that year.

Information from Sun Sentinel news partner WPEC- Ch. 12 was used in this report.

MIKE STOCKER/ SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL FILE Then Fort Lauderdale Deputy Fire Chief Robert Hoecherl, far right, runs through the Henry Kinney Tunnel as part of the second Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run. Hoecherl was arrested Thursday for misdemeanor driving under the influence.