Off-Duty Officer Charged With DUI In Crash That Hurt Cops
Posted: 6:30 am EST December 18, 2009
Updated: 12:56 pm EST December 18, 2009

CECIL TOWNSHIP, Pa. –– Police in Washington County charged an off-duty police officer with drunken driving after two officers were injured when his vehicle hit their cruisers, which were parked near a police roadblock.

Police in Cecil Township identified the officer who crashed into the other two patrol cars shortly before 2 a.m. Friday as Thomas Walker, 38, a South Fayette police officer. He is charged with DUI and aggravated assault.

"He lives in the township, but he works in South Fayette," said Cecil Township police Chief John Pushak. "We don't know if he was responding to the call or if it was just a coincidence," said Pushak.

The cruisers his vehicle struck were from neighboring Bridgeville, which had sent police to Cecil to respond to a report of shots fired.

The cars were on the berm of Route 50 when the off-duty officer hit an unmarked police car, which was pushed into a marked cruiser, injuring one Bridgeville officer in each, police said.

The South Fayette police chief would not say whether Walker would be suspended. He told Channel 11 News that the department would conduct its own internal investigation.

Sgt. Gary James and Patrolman Chris Manolakos were the two injured officers. Officials said they were taken to a local hospital in stable condition and are expected to be OK.

Walker was also taken to the hospital, where a blood-alcohol test was conducted.

"For the officers to be injured, it's not ironic," said Pushak. "It's something you don't expect. All officers acted professionally. They did what they needed to do. It's unfortunate so many officers were involved."

Old Route 50 was closed while police investigated the crash. It has since reopened. Police said they never found the man who was allegedly firing a gun.