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Franklin Precinct Captain Reassigned Following DUI Citation in Carroll County
Capt. Matthew McElwee was reassigned to administrative duty.
Police Capt. Matt McElwee
Baltimore County Police Capt. Matt McElwee on "Police Report."
Baltimore County Television
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(Updated 5:07 p.m.)—Franklin police precinct Capt. Matthew McElwee was transferred following Carroll County citations for driving under the influence, Baltimore County police announced Monday.
McElwee was assigned to administrative functions in the department's operations bureau.
According to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, McElwee, a Hanover resident, was one of two arrests Saturday night during a sobriety checkpoint in the 2200 block of Hanover Pike in Hampstead.
According to the sheriff's office, McElwee, 43, was arrested on suspicion of alcohol impairment and released with citations after he refused to submit to a blood alcohol concentration test.
He declined to comment, and referred questions to the police's communications office.
McElwee was cited by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office for driving while intoxicated and driving under the influence. Baltimore County police said McElwee was driving his personal vehicle and not carrying a weapon.
Police said McElwee will be assigned to the operations bureau until the case against him concludes and police complete an internal investigation. Assistant precinct commander Lt. Stephen Doarnberger will serve as acting precinct captain.
McElwee took over the Franklin precinct in Jan. 2010, and has seen robberies and other crime statistics decrease under his leadership. He has priotized community outreach, attending community meetings and sending other officers to organizations like the Reisterstown Improvement Association, Reisterstown-Owings Mills-Glyndon Coordinating Council, Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Committee.
"He just was always involved in all parts of outreach, whether it was the COP (Citizens on Patrol) program or the Reisterstown Main Street project, he was really right there with us with ideas and suggestions," said Baltimore County Councilwoman Vicki Almond. "I feel sad because I think he really did an excellent job with his community outreach and he was very accessible."
Owings Mills-Reisterstown Patch Editor Marc Shapiro contributed to this report.
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Kelly
6:24 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Wow. Really police officers are human too. He was arrested in his personal vehicle, with no weapons under " suspicion " of alcohol consumption. I am by no means down playing the matter; however I am sure he was just enjoying his personal time. I'm sure saving lives and dealing with criminals as well as running a precinct every day could stressa person a little.
mike c.
4:11 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Very bad judgement to drink and then drive.
Terri Davis
9:35 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Still no excuse for drving impaired and putting citizens in jeopardy. Police are not above the law. They should have to follow the same laws as everyone else. Police (not all) believe they can do what they want because they have a badge. Will be interesting to see if this is his first offense.
Job nub
12:33 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
He should be fired. He broke the laws that he was suppose to enforce. He has a drinking problem and poor judgement. Plus, he refused to take a breathalyzer. He should have been arrested like a regular citizen. He has probably been given a free pass for years.
Ed
11:25 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
"According to the sheriff's office, McElwee, 43, was arrested on suspicion of alcohol impairment and released with citations after he refused to submit to a blood alcohol concentration test."
Um, he WAS arrested just like a regular citizen. And as for the decision to fire him, any chance we might wait until, oh, say, an actual trial? If he's found guilty, then fire away. Until then, he should be treated like any regular citizen -- innocent until PROVEN guilty.