Police chief's DUI appeal decided today

WAFF just reported that Tony Logan was found guilty of DUI.

We all know that when all is said and done and after all the tax payers money has been wasted that "Billy" will let him keep his job and give some lame excuse why and probably give him a raise.... and as much as I hate to see this happen, I'd rather keep Tony and get rid of Shoemaker....

Well, he will lose his license for at least 6 months. I'd say that renders him incapable of doing his job. The Police Department isn't going to employ even an officer with a suspended license and he shouldn't be treated any differently. Law Enforcement Officers are generally held to a higher standard. It's sad, but I'd say it's time for Tony Logan to get in to a new line of work. Is it fair? Probably not, but we all have to pay for our mistakes, and there has been plenty that have paid for theirs under his supervision. Just the fact that he knew he was guilty and wasted the taxpayer money to try and beat the system because he was too selfish to take responsibility for his actions, is enough to show the character of this man. He was crooked and took "buy outs" or "friendly favors" (whatever you call it, it's crooked) for people in fixing tickets, and that cost him his job in Florence. He got another chance in Tuscumbia. Several years later, Tony Logan is still trying to beat the system. He's so slick he's swimming and doesn't even get wet, or so he thought...

 

If this is his first offense, he faces a maximum of 1 year in jail. Judges don't like to be jerked around like they have been in this case and often levy heavy punishment to individuals who do this and have no remorse for their wrong doings.

 

On a second note, was he singled out? Probably so. LEO's usually don't obtain a court order for blood/urine on a misdemeanor DUI. However, like I said, he already had a chance in Florence and sidestepped any criminal proceedings in that case, for which he could have been brought up on. Florence was so ashamed of him and his actions they forced him to resign and put it to rest. I've got a feeling that this will be happening in Tuscumbia very soon.

I won't be surprised if he gets off with community service & a fine. He'll most likely keep his job but behind a desk. Of course, they will have to appoint a cop or someone to chauffeur him around when the need arises for about 6 months. 

I am against drinking and driving, but the florence police had their sights set on bringing him down no matter what.  Someone earlier mentioned the firing of logan from the florence. The state police investagated that and found logan innocent of the charges brought by florence.  I really would not like the ideal of the guy living next door coming on my property, sticking his hand in my car and taking my keys, then calling the police and telling them logan war driving drunk.  What has he got against logan.  To this day no one saw logan driving the car, he was setting in the non moving car. Heck the florence police can not even get their story straight.  Lt Lester said bailey told him to tell watkins to do the test, bailey said she did not tell lester that, so lester got throwed  under the bus by bailey. The florence police and judge had to get the last dig by putting logan in the police car on camera and spend the nite in jail, why not just tell logan to report to the jail the next day.  It's not like he was going to flee the county. Sorta makes you wonder if chief thompson was set up with the cocain arrest years as he claimed by the current police chief.  Now singleton has resigned so he and irons can control who becomes the new police chief, even tho the new mayor can appoint a new chief, that rarely happens.  Another question, why did singleton require all florence police officers to live inside the city limits but he was allowed to live outside in killen.  All these years the taxpayers have given him a new car every several years, buy his gas, cover his car insureance and maintenance for him to drive back and forth to work.  Some will call this an attack on singleton but it is not, I just see it as an abuse of the system that he is in charge of.

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If he was innocent of the wrong doings in Florence, then why did he resign a job that he loved so dearly? You stated "The state police investigated that and found Logan innocent of the charges brought by Florence." Florence didn't bring any charges against Logan over that whole ordeal, rather launched an internal investigation. He tried to throw his weight around and get a "buddy deal" (ticket fixing, which is illegal) from the wrong department, and they reported him. He simply resigned and they let it go as they were ashamed of this man's actions and the reflection upon the department. Logan threw Honesty and Integrity out the window long ago, and this shows his true Ethical beliefs. Citizens depend on the Police Department to be Honest, and have high standards of Integrity and Ethical standings. These are the core principles of the Police Department and their mission.

 

One last question for ya @jmmgj5. Do you think the man operated his vehicle that night while under the influence of alcohol? Keep in mind, Logan had already took out the mailbox at the edge of his driveway while attempting to pull in, then hit his Tuscumbia PD issued cruiser parked in the driveway. Your wrong, someone DID indeed see Logan driving, and it was his neighbor. If I was that drunk, I would appreciate ANYONE taking the keys from me. What if he had hit and killed someone that night due to his gross neglect (misjudgement and/or mistake if your Bill Shoemaker) of the Law he's entrusted to uphold? What if that neighbor wouldn't have taken the keys and Logan headed back out on the roads? Things could have turned out a lot worse. Drunk driving KILLS! That's why Law Enforcement all across the nation are actively pursuing and prosecuting those caught, to the fullest extent of the Law and I don't expect nothing less in this circumstance.

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I wouldn't either semi, but I would be one ticked off citizen and exercise my right to vote to remove those responsible for keeping this irresponsible person. A regular police officer would have been terminated, no questions asked.

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If you think Logan wasn't driving that car, then who was? Why did Logan let whoever was driving after the accident, put him behind the wheel, then let this person run off, & act like he was intoxicated if he wasn't? That's about the way you're making it sound.

 

If my neighbor see's someone that has just had an accident that appears to be drunk, I would be thankful he grabbed those keys. He could have easily driven off, had another accident, & possibly killing someone.

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I agree. It shouldn't be but it's all about who you know.

Does anyone know the difference in a felony DUI and a misdemeanor DUI?

I believe, here in Alabama, it's the 3rd STATE offense. Meaning, if a municipality gives you the DUI, that doesn't count towards the 3, as they usually charge you under a municipal DUI charge instead of a state DUI charge so they can keep the monies in their coffers. There was a big challenge to this a few years back and the Alabama Supreme Court made that ruling overturning many felony DUI's, that it has to be state charged DUI's (trooper, sheriff/county, etc.) or either the municipalities must charge the offender under the state code if they want it to count towards the felony.

 

In Logan's case, since he appealed it, that took it to the county (state level), so his will count. But I believe Florence charged him under the state statue to begin with.

 "felony DUI and a misdemeanor DUI"

News media are reporting this is a misdemeanor conviction.

 

I really would not like the ideal of the guy living next door coming on my property, sticking his hand in my car and taking my keys, then calling the police and telling them logan war driving drunk. What has he got against logan.

 

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Maybe he (the neighbor) was simply AGAINST the idea that a person in a visibly intoxicated state should be driving an automobile on public roads. Seeing that Logan had over 3 times the allowable blood alcohol level, removing the keys and calling the police seemed like pretty sensible things for the neighbor to do. From reports in the media, Logan has done a good job of rehabilitating himself, including continuing studies leading to a doctorate in law enforcement, which is a major credential. Probation, with severe penalties for any future similar offense, does not seem to be an unreasonable outcome.

Was it any surprise to anyone that Shoemaker is going to have to obtain more information before he determines whether Tony keeps his job....  How much information does he need?  The man has been convicted twice....  Oh but "he's got his head on straight now" and "he got a doctorate in criminal justice"....  oh well that make everything okay then....  Still doesn not put him above the law.  When this first occured, if he had confessed to having a drinking problem and took his lumps and said that he needed help, then maybe he could have kept his job and that would have been okay.  But wasting tax-payers dollars and trying to get out of all of it was the wrong thing to do.  Doesn't say much for the kind of person he is that he still plans to appeal it "again".  I guess Shoemaker will be more than happy to drive him to work everyday.... Two of a kind if you ask me.

I believe, here in Alabama, it's the 3rd STATE offense. Meaning, if a municipality gives you the DUI, that doesn't count towards the 3, as they usually charge you under a municipal DUI charge instead of a state DUI charge so they can keep the monies in their coffers. There was a big challenge to this a few years back and the Alabama Supreme Court made that ruling overturning many felony DUI's, that it has to be state charged DUI's (trooper, sheriff/county, etc.) or either the municipalities must charge the offender under the state code if they want it to count towards the felony.

In Logan's case, since he appealed it, that took it to the county (state level), so his will count. But I believe Florence charged him under the state statue to begin with.

Thanks for the info. I think I just assumed it was based on levels of severity.

Mr. logan is a good person. If he is guilty then he needs to set an example and take his medicine. Police complain of the courts and those you miss use it. As a leader in the community step up. If he is inocent then fight it out.

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IF he's innocent? He hits a mail box, then hits the police car in his own driveway. His neighbor said Logan looked/acted drunk, so he took the keys. Then Logan refuses a breath test. The only reason I can think of that anyone would refuse one, is simply because they know they're above the legal limit & shouldn't be driving.

In today’s TD,  Mayor Shoemaker said a decision on how, if at all, the conviction will affect Logan’s employment as police chief has not been determined. If at all???

 

The guilty verdict came in Wednesday, the 11^th,  & he hasn’t talk with Logan yet? Why should Logan be studying his options, as though it’s up to him if he remains as Police Chief? Shoemaker is the Mayor, is it not up to him?

 

Here is a man that was driving drunk, has an accident, refuses a breath test, is found guilty & will lose his license for at least 90 days, but it’s possibly going to be ok for him to remain Police Chief?

The Mayor did say “if at all” as to the decision if conviction will affect Logan as police chief. If this was your average Joe, he/she would already have been fired.

I agree Semi. I certainly don't see where he was treated unfairly. It sounds more like he got special treatment if anything because of his job position. I also wonder if he will have to go through community corrections and DUI school for about a year? He should have to because everyone else does.

Just a quick note to what Jmmjg5 said.  Where are you getting your information?   First off, her name is Beasely, not Baily.   Secondly, Singleton doesn't require any police officer to live in the city limits.   Florence PD has a good contingency of it's officers that live outside the city limits.