NICEVILLE — A police officer was given a criminal citation and placed on administrative leave Wednesday morning after he allowed his girlfriend to drive to the police station to pick him up even though her driver license had been suspended.
Officer Michael Smith, 37, asked his girlfriend, 33-year-old Natalie Jarrett of Fort Walton Beach, to pick him up after his shift, Niceville Police Chief David Popwell said.
Smith’s supervisor knew Jarrett had a suspended driver license, Popwell said.
Jarrett arrived at the station just before 9 a.m. in Smith’s personal vehicle, according to police call logs.
Smith got into the vehicle before his supervisor stopped him and issued the citations, Popwell said.
Smith was placed on administrative leave until further notice. There will be an internal investigation, Popwell said.
“We hold police officers to a higher standard and he’s been relieved of his duty until his court date,” he said.