PORT HADLOCK — A Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy is facing an accusation of driving under the influence, and he may lose his badge after an internal investigation found that he showed up to work drunk last week.
Sheriff Mike Brasfield on Monday announced completion of the investigation which found that Deputy Brian M. Post drove while intoxicated.
Post was also found to be in violation of an administrative charge for reporting to duty while drunk.
Brasfield declined comment on whether Post was driving a sheriff’s patrol car at the time.
Both he and Undersheriff Tony Hernandez said the department will not release any more information on the charges until both an administrative hearing and a criminal hearing are completed.
The administrative hearing is scheduled for Friday.
No court date has been set to hear the criminal charge.
According to Brasfield, a patrol sergeant observed signs of the 45-year-old Post under the influence of an intoxicant last Thursday morning.
The deputy was relieved of duty and placed on paid administrative leave.
The Sheriff’s Office did not indicate if Post was placed under arrest.
The internal investigation was completed Monday, and the matter was referred to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which officially accused Post with one count of driving under the influence.
Post has been charged internally for violating Sheriff’s Office rules of conduct, discrediting the office and violating obedience to the agency’s rules.
The recommended internal administrative discipline is termination of employment, according to Brasfield.
Post is a seven-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office. Prior to that, he was a Lynn¬wood police officer for 10 years.
________
Jefferson County reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
