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Being arrested for drunken driving was a violation of merit rules, and a Kosciusko County deputy was suspended for 30 days without pay for his actions.
Douglas Brumfield Jr., 31, of Warsaw, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated early Sunday morning. He reportedly had a blood-alcohol level of .17 percent when he was stopped by North Webster police for driving erratically.
Brumfield took a leave of absence this week and was scheduled to go before the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Merit Board for a disciplinary hearing Friday.
However, Brumfield waived his right to a public hearing and the merit board - which oversees hiring, firing and other personnel issues for the law enforcement agency - voted to accept a proposed agreement presented to them by Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine.
"(Deputy Brumfield) accepts responsibility for his actions and admits to the charges," Rovenstine said, adding that Brumfield also accepts the conditions of the disciplinary action.
Citing Brumfield's conduct unbecoming an officer and failure to conform to laws, Rovenstine told merit board members that he recommended the 30-day suspension followed by a 60-day period of probation, during which any violation of merit rules could result in his termination of employment.
Brumfield did not speak on his own behalf during the 20-minute hearing, which included less than five minutes of executive session for board members Larry Yeiter, Jean Northenor and Kevin McSherry to discuss the issue with board attorney Stanley Pequignot.
Several fellow officers attended the hearing in a show of support for Brumfield.
