On duty state trooper arrested for DUI

bdowlin@berksmontnews.com
A 19-year state police veteran was arrested for driving under the influence while on duty in Windsor Township last night.

Kevin Wackley, a trooper at the Hamburg barracks who was operating a marked police vehicle, was arrested at 8 p.m. in a parking lot near the intersection of Reservoir Road and Old 22. State police were informed of Wackley’s possible intoxication by Tilden Police Chief William McEllroy III.

“We received a call from a local officer who came into contact with him ,” said Sgt. Robert Wagner, station commander for the state police’s Hamburg barracks.

Wagner said when the barracks received the information and found Wackley’s location, the trooper was directed to pull into a parking lot until the corporal of the Hamburg barracks could get out to the scene.

After determining that Wackley was under the influence of alcohol, he was taken into custody and processed.

Wagner would not divulge the blood alcohol content of Wackley but did confirm that it was over the legal limit.

Due to the investigation, McEllroy was unable to discuss the matter, as well.

“I can’t comment any further because it is an official investigation,” said McEllroy.

Wagner likewise was not free to discuss whether Wackley was ever disciplined for infractions while on the job in the past or whether he has ever been charged with a DUI.

“I can’t release or talk about any of his prior histories, if any,” said Wagner.

Wackley has been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation.

“He was processed and released, which is what we would do with any citizen we arrest for DUI. And he’ll be charged and summoned to court,” said Wagner.