Sheriff: No Special Treatment in Traffic Stop of Fredericksburg Police Captain

The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office has completed its investigation into the Nov. 24 traffic stop of an off-duty City of Fredericksburg Police Captain, concluding there was no wrong doing.

Capt. Rick Pennock, a 29-year-veteran of the force, was pulled over for a "presumptive DUI," said officials with the Fredericksburg Police Department.  No charges were filed and Pennock was driven home from the stop by a co-worker who was off-duty at the time.

Following an internal investigation into the event, Pennock was reassigned Dec. 7, transferred from his position commanding the department's patrol division to commander of the detective division.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office at that time told Fredericksburg Patch their investigation was ongoing. 

Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Capt. Jeff Pearce today released the following statement on behalf of Sheriff Roger Harris.

"On November 23, 2013 a patrol Deputy with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for suspicion of DUI as the cause for the stop.  The driver, who was identified as an off duty member of the Fredericksburg Police Department, was cooperative and engaged in conversation with the Deputy as is normal during a traffic related investigation.  During the ensuing conversation and observations of the driver, the Deputy determined that there were other circumstances surrounding the issue of the man’s driving.   These issues were not determined to have impaired the driver enough to warrant an arrest. 

"At the driver’s request, though he was not required to do so, a call was made to have someone drive him to his residence.  The Deputy was satisfied that the matter was resolved, and no further action was taken. 

"Over the past two years, in Spotsylvania County, there were 1,027 calls for service or interactions by Deputies for suspicion of DUI.  Of that number, 270 of these contacts resulted in arrests for DUI. 

“We take driving under the influence very seriously and we have a zero tolerance policy for anyone caught driving in such a manner.  We don’t give breaks to anyone, regardless of their status, position or relationship.

"In this situation, two separate law enforcement agencies have reviewed the facts surrounding this action and no wrong doing was found to have occurred.  Deputies would have responded in exactly the same manner with anyone, as demonstrated by the facts and historical statistical documentation."  

See: Fredericksburg Police Captain Reassigned After Internal Investigation

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