A DRUNK cop who was slumped over the driver’s seat of a patrol car with the engine running WON'T be charged "because the case can’t be proven in court."
Colorado Police Officer Nate Meier was wearing his uniform and armed when he was found worse for wear behind the wheel, reports the .
An angry prosecutor claimed the Aurora Police Department allegedly failed to collect evidence for a potential DUI investigation, despite his "intoxicated" state.
The cop was demoted and suspended without pay after admitting he downed vodka before starting on the day shift when the incident occured on March 29, 2019.
District Attorney George Brauchler said the officer was “heavily intoxicated," with his foot on the brake when two passersby found his car parked in the middle of the road.
"I have no doubts about those facts, but what I lack is the ability to prove that beyond a reasonable doubt in court," Brauchler said at a news conference on Thursday.
"And the reason I lack the ability to do that is because of decisions that were made at the scene by other members of the Aurora Police Department.”
A 'VERY FAINT ODOR'
The "frustrated" lawyer pointed out that at least eight Aurora officers came to the scene as well as firefighters and paramedics.
Significantly, no one requested blood samples or search warrants - despite smelling a "very faint odor of a possible alcoholic beverage on his breath."
Body cam footage released back in Decemeber shows the conked out cop snoozing on the wheel as medics tried to extricate him.
A lieutenant can be heard saying "he’s a little intoxicated" in the video, reports the Daily News, after cops claimed there isn't enough evidence for a DUI probe.
But the DA says four out of five officers wearing body cams only activated them for a select portion of the footage.
Brauchler said: "If one of us had been in that car… and you asked, ‘Do I think it would have been treated differently?’ I do.”
'AN ABERRATION'
The lawyer blasted local law enforcement's response as an “an aberration."
The Aurora Police Department insisted the smell of alcohol wasn't prevalent and the incident was treated as a medical emergency.
"Due to an inability to exclude a medical condition, and absent confirmatory information a DUI investigation was not conducted," they said.
Privacy laws prevented medical staff from revealing Meier's condition on the day in question.
The police department's read: "Meier took immediate responsibility for his actions.
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"He has shown tremendous dedication in addressing his actions of that day and taken aggressive steps moving forward.
"In addition to being demoted from the rank of Agent back to officer, Ofc. Meier also received a significant unpaid suspension.
"Meier has experienced a financial impact in excess of $20,000 and will continue to experience such impact over the next few years."
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