Arkansas officer fired after squad-car wreck, DWI case

Chris Maher
Chris Maher

A detective at the Saline County sheriff's office was fired Thursday, two weeks after he wrecked a squad car and was charged with driving while impaired.

Detective Christopher Maher, 44, of Benton crashed a Saline County sheriff's office vehicle March 31 and was arrested shortly after by the Bryant Police Department on driving while intoxicated, according to a sheriff's office news release.

No other vehicles were involved in the wreck.

Saline County Sheriff Rodney Wright immediately placed Maher on administrative leave. Wright issued a statement Thursday saying he terminated Maher for violating Section 39 of the Saline County personnel police manual. Section 39 outlines the conditions of use for Saline County employees driving county-owned vehicles.

"Any employee operating a county vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in an unsafe or negligent manner will immediately be terminated," part of the section reads.

Attempts to reach Maher on Thursday afternoon were unsuccessful.

The day after the detective's arrest, Wright initiated an internal investigation.

"I take DWI very seriously and will not condone anyone, whether private citizen or [sheriff's office] employee, putting lives at risk when operating a motor vehicle while impaired," Wright said an April 1 news release.

The March 31 crash wasn't Maher's first involving a squad car. In 2012, Luann K. Nelson sued Maher on accusations of motor-vehicle negligence after he crashed into her car with his Saline County sheriff's office vehicle, according to court documents.

Maher acknowledged rear-ending Nelson in a response to her complaint in Saline County circuit court, but he denied acting negligently, documents show.

The case was settled before going to trial.

Metro on 04/15/2016

Upcoming Events