Police officer arrested on suspicion of DUI in crash

He is placed on administrative leave after incident

A San Jose police officer was arrested last week on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol before a two-car collision, according to authorities.

The California Highway Patrol responded about 3:43 a.m. Friday to a crash on southbound Interstate 880, just north of Tennyson Road in Hayward, according to a CHP report. No one was injured in the collision.

Officers spoke with witnesses and suspected a driver was at fault for the crash. They conducted a DUI investigation, determined the man was under the influence of alcohol and arrested him suspicion of DUI. He was cited and released the same day.

San Jose police Officer Steve Aponte confirmed Tuesday that CHP officers arrested an off-duty SJPD officer on suspicion of DUI over the weekend but declined to provide his name, citing an ongoing internal investigation and a personnel matter. The officer had not been placed on administrative leave as of Tuesday morning, Aponte said.

There are resources available for San Jose police officers dealing with substance issues, Aponte added, including counseling, peer support and oneon-one assistance through the department's crisis management unit.

San Jose authorities confirmed last week that they were investigating a police officer for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol while on duty — and working the case of a kidnapped three-monthold baby.

“When any officer regardless of agency, county or state tarnishes the badge, we all suffer the consequences,” San Jose police Chief Mata said at a news conference about that case last week.

At the same news conference, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo called for drug and alcohol testing for all officers in the department to be included in the city's next contract with the Police Officers Association.