KENNEWICK, Wash. – An off-duty Kennewick Police Department (KPD) officer was arrested in connection with a drunk driving crash Wednesday night, KPD said in a release.
At around 9:48 p.m., KPD said officers responded to the crash involving Officer Fernando Ramos, whose vehicle struck an unoccupied parked car. No injuries were reported.
Benton County Sheriff’s Office was called to conduct an independent investigation in response to Officer Ramos showing signs of impairment, KPD said in the release.
Officer Ramos was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and booked into Benton County Jail.
“Driving under the influence is a serious offense. KPD remains committed to equipping our officers with the tools and wellness resources they need to be professionals—on and off duty. We will learn from this, grow as an agency, and continue to provide professional police services with integrity, courage, and commitment. Being a leader in the community doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off,” Chief Chris Guerrero said.
The department plans to conduct an internal investigation into the incident.
KPD stated that Officer Ramos is entitled to the same legal rights as any citizen and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
