Paul Murphy / Eyewitness News
Email: pmurphy@wwltv.com | Twitter: @pmurphywwl
JEFFERSON, La. -- The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office confirms one of its deputy's has resigned after driving drunk and wrecking his patrol car.
According to the JPSO, Christopher Hyer, a five-year veteran patrol officer, was off duty last Monday around 10:30 p.m., when he struck a tree near the corner of West Esplanade Avenue and Kent Street.
Justin Luna, who lives nearby, said it caused a commotion in the neighborhood.
"It took a long time before they cleared it up," Luna said. "There were a lot of police cars around it and everything."
JPSO spokesman Col. John Fortunato said Hyer was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital, and that's where investigators determined he was over the limit.
He was booked that night into the parish jail and charged with driving while intoxicated and failure to maintain proper control of the vehicle.
"Gee wiz, he's there to protect us," Luna said. "He sets a bad example."
Neighbor Becky Patterson agrees.
"I feel drunk drivers in general aren't held accountable enough for the damage they can do," Patterson said. "We have children and parents in this community who walk along the sidewalk. What if he would have hit one of them?"
Luna said deputies are supposed to protect and serve, not serve themselves.
"Certainly, not serve himself while he's on duty or too much at that."
The JPSO immediately suspended Hyer and conducted an internal review.
Three days after the accident, Hyer resigned.
"Certainly, they should have fired him if he wouldn't have resigned," Luna said. "I'm glad that he did."
"It's just not kosher to drink and drive," Patterson said. "Isn't that what they all say?"
The now former deputy is out of jail on bond.
His first court appearance is set for Oct. 18.
