ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — According to a report, an Altamonte Springs police officer was swerving all over the road and he smelled of alcohol. However, WFTV found out Tuesday that the Casselberry police officer who stopped his vehicle didn't arrest him.
Officer Bryan Burke was driving an unmarked police department car when a Casselberry officer stopped him, the report said. Burke had just left a strip club before he was stopped.
Investigators said Officer Burke admitted he had at least three vodka and pineapple juice cocktails in less than three hours at bars he drove to with his unmarked police car. However, Burke claims he gave away a fourth drink and denies he was driving drunk.
A Casselberry police officer saw Burke swerving on SR-436 minutes after he left Rachel's adult night club just before 2:30am in January. According to the report, the Casselberry officer ran the tag and followed Burke, stopping him at an Entenmanns's Bakery. He said Burke already had his badge out the window and he smelled of alcohol.
Once Casselberry Officer Rob Lilly found out Burke's car was an unmarked police car, and that his eyes were not bloodshot and his speech was not slurred, he let Burke go, investigators said. Officer Lily also said Burke's cell phone was illuminated and he assumed Burke was swerving because he was distracted by the phone.
According to the report, Officer Burke first said he was on the job in the unmarked car, but then admitted he was not. Burke had told his supervisor that he was having trouble with his girlfriend that night and she wanted him to come home early. Burke's supervisor believed him and let him leave work three hours early.
But investigators Burke's supervisor told police that did not happen. Instead of going home, he admitted going to two bars, including Rachel's, with a female friend.
Burke was suspended for eight hours without pay and lost his car privileges for a month for driving his police car to bars, and drinking and texting while driving his car. He was not punished for lying.
Police will not comment to WFTV about the case, nor will the city manager who oversees the police, or any other city leaders.