WSP arrests off-duty cop

An off-duty Spokane police detective has been placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest early Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence while driving an undercover police car.

Jeff Barrington’s gun and car were taken from him following news of his arrest, officials said. He was on light duty at the department Friday, but he will be off while the matter is investigated internally, said Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.

“When an officer is arrested, I’m going to give him a timeout, so to speak,” even when the charge is a misdemeanor, Kirkpatrick said. “I think strong leadership requires being predictable.”

Barrington was pulled over about 1:25 a.m. Friday near Francis Avenue and Calispel Street for driving 5 to 6 mph over the limit and having no front license plate, said WSP spokesman Trooper Mark Baker.

Barrington refused to take a field-sobriety test, which automatically leads to a DUI arrest. He was taken to a patrol station and given a breathalyzer test that showed his blood-alcohol level was under the legal limit of 0.08 percent, Baker said. Barrington was released from the station after someone arrived to take him home.

The case has been sent to the Spokane County prosecutor’s office for review, Baker said. Prosecutors will decide whether to charge Barrington.

The 16-year Spokane police veteran was driving an assigned undercover car at the time of the arrest, police officials confirmed.

Barrington, who is a member of Spokane’s Gang Enforcement Team, was off-duty, but detectives often take their cars home in case they are called out unexpectedly.

WSP notified Spokane police officials Friday morning. “An arrest of any of our officers is treated very seriously,” said Assistant Chief Jim Nicks.

An internal affairs investigation into Barrington’s actions will begin immediately, officials said.

Detective Ernest Wuthrich, Spokane Police Guild president, said officials will make sure Barrington didn’t violate any departmental policies or procedures.

Wuthrich said he’s never seen an officer fired solely for getting a DUI.

Other officers who have been in trouble for drunken driving have been suspended for several days, said Spokane police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe.

“I’m going to be fair,” Kirkpatrick said. “Not everything is going to be fatal to one’s employment.”