By Carla Branch
alexandrianews.org
David Baker (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
On Saturday, July 25 at approximately 11:00 p.m., Arlington County Police arrested Alexandria Chief of Police David P. Baker for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). Chief Baker was involved in a traffic collision near the intersection of I-66 and North Fairfax Drive in Arlington County. The driver of the other vehicle sustained non life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local area hospital. According to Arlington County Police, Chief Baker’s blood alcohol level (BAC) was .19 percent. Under Virginia law, the legal limit for driving is a .08 BAC. Chief Baker was driving an unmarked City vehicle at the time of the accident. Following the arrest, he was released through normal booking procedures.
Because of the arrest, Alexandria City Manager James K. Hartmann placed Chief Baker on paid administrative leave, and appointed Alexandria Executive Deputy Chief of Police Earl Cook Acting Chief of Police, effective immediately.
Baker came the Alexandria Police Department in 1991 and was named Chief of Police in 2006. He was a member of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department from 1970 to 1991.
Cook is a 30-year veteran of the Alexandria Police Department, has served as Executive Deputy Chief of Police since August 2006, and served as an Alexandria Deputy Chief of Police for 12 years
City Officials React To Baker’s Arrest
Acting Police Chief Earl Cook, Mayor Bill Euille and City Manager, Jim Hartmann made statements in a press conference regarding Chief Baker's arrest. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, Hartmann and Cook held a press conference this morning to discuss Baker’s arrest. “Chief Baker called me just after the incident last night to inform me about what happened,” Hartmann said. “We have an administrative review process, which I have turned over to our human resources department and to the City Attorney. They will conduct a thorough review of this matter.”
City Manager Jim Hartmann. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
Cook, responded to questions about whether Baker had any history of this type of behavior. “I know of no behavior that might have impaired Chief Baker’s professional judgment or caused embarrassment to the Department in the past. It seems to me that this entire incident is an aberration,” Cook said.
Hartmann said that he would meet with Baker this afternoon and expected to have some sort of decision about Baker’s future in Alexandria later this week. Driving a City vehicle under the influence of alcohol is potentially cause for termination under City policy. Baker will be in court in Arlington County for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, July 29.