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Alex Cabrero ReportingA UHP trooper, sworn to protect the public from intoxicated drivers, lands in trouble for DUI himself, and Lt. Fred Swain could lose his job.
People get busted for drinking and driving almost every day in Utah, but none of them was ever the commander of UHP's DUI team, until Lt. Swain was busted last week. We hear all the time that drinking alcohol decreases your ability to make good decisions, and his case is the perfect example.
Of all the dumb things any of us could ever do while driving, number one would have to be driving after drinking alcohol.
Lt. Fred Swain, Utah Highway Patrol, from File: "We run into very dangerous people on the freeway regularly, and it can become a dangerous job."
That was Utah Highway Patrolman Fred Swain a few months ago. He knows the dangers of DUI, or at least, he thought he did. Last week, while off-duty in his patrol car, he smashed into a barrier on Bangerter Highway in Draper. He was charged with DUI.
Lt. Doug McCleve, Utah Highway Patrol: "It goes against everything we represent, everything we talk about, and everything that we do."
UHP spokesman Doug McCleve says the entire department is embarrassed. Lt. Swain was the commander of their DUI task force, served 15 years, and was recently selected to attend a prestigious national FBI training class.
Lt. Doug McCleve: "This is something he could be fired for.
Art Brown: "It was a tremendous disappointment, of course."
Art Brown is president of the local Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter. He knows Swain well, worked with him at DUI checkpoints, and is just happy no one was injured.
Art Brown, MADD: "I'm sure he would like the night back, as any drunk driver would like the night back."
But you can't control the past, only the present, which unfortunately, Swain didn't do last Friday.
Lt. Doug McCleve: "Sometimes people make really poor decisions when they're impaired, which is why we say never drink and drive."
Lt. Swain is on paid administrative leave while this mess gets sorted out.
This story has been one of the most popular ever on KSL's website, bringing hundreds of responses such as this one from Martin M., "I agree, let them investigate, don't jump to conclusions, and we'll see what happens. This guy has put in many years of service, which should be credit to him."
And this one from Ty L., "Make an example out of him. He knows better than anyone what can result from driving drunk. He should get the max sentence whatever that may be."
A decision on his job status should come soon.
